Dyldam Parramatta Eels forward Alex Twal was named in the New South Wales Rugby League squad to participate in the 2016 Under 20s Origin pathways high performance camp in Narrabeen over the weekend and Twal said it was a great honour to attend the camp.
Run by NSWRL Performance Programs Manager and former first-grader Jamie Feeney, the 30-man squad at the camp learnt from Origin greats including VB NSW Blues Head Coach Laurie Daley, and former Blues captain Brad Fittler.
“It is a great honour to be able to represent my state at any level, so it is a real big honour and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Twal said.
The Blues’ next generation underwent medicals, fitness testing and Origin attitude workshops surrounded by a sea of rugby league legends which Twal will take plenty away from.
“There was a fair bit of training with some of the NSW greats like Brad Fittler and Laurie Daley. They gave us a bit of a talk, which I got a lot out of and I will try and take that in to my playing season in 2016,” Twal said.
“My key takeaway from the two day camp was learning about the culture that they are bringing and instilling there at NSW.”
The NSW Under-20s will clash with Queensland’s Under-20s in the curtain-raiser before Origin III, 2016, to be played at ANZ Stadium on July 13.
The NSW Under-20s are aiming to record their fifth consecutive win after claiming victories over the past four years. Undefeated Under-20s coach Dean Pay will once again mentor the side in 2016.
“The aim is to come away with the fifth consecutive victory,” Twal said.
“Hopefully that is the result and we can go 5-0.”
The full NSW U20s squad includes Eels' prop Alex Twal, along with Tyrell Fuimaono, with the latter unable to attend the camp due to NRL Rookie Camp requirements.
Click here to see the full NSW U20s squad.
