Jimboomba resident Brandon Russell has represented Queensland in the under 18s State of Origin match.
The game was played at ANZ Stadium on June 21 as a precursor to the second Origin clash.
Russell was selected to play in the second row.
The New South Welshmen were too strong for the Queensland side producing a final score of 35 – 28.
Russell said it was disappointing to have lost to the blues but it was still a great experience.
“We started out sloppy and we just didn’t stick to the processes,” he said.
“That put us behind from the start.
“We got it back toward the end of the first half and we got on streak which put us in front at half time.”
Russell said the boys came out of the sheds slowly again and they just couldn’t bring it back.
“Those NSW boys were just more intense than we could bring,” he said.
Several members of the team have played together before in Under 20s and Under 18s club games.
“Even the players I hadn’t run out with, I had seen play before” he said.
The team went into camp on June 16 and flew to Sydney on June 20.
Russell said his team had lunch with the Queensland side prior to the match.
“It was great to sit with the legends,” he said.
“They gave their time to come and impart some pre-match wisdom to us.
“We even stayed in the same hotel as the side so we’d seen most of them around before our game.”
The team headed to the stadium when they arrived in Sydney to get out pre-match jitters.
“I’m used to playing in those bigger stadiums now,” he said.
“But when you hear that crowd, it is still pretty daunting.
“Once you get into the game though you don’t even notice.”
Russell will play in the Broncos under 20s side this weekend against the Canberra Raiders.
“Every game is a chance to improve on what went right and wrong in the last game,” he said.
“I’ll be working on my defence and speed.
“We need to bring more confidence into our games to get back up the ladder.”