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Steven Blakemore used to watch in awe as his rugby league idol Brad Fittler sidestepped and bedazzled opponents on the television.
Now the Aberglasslyn 17-year-old is sidestepping his own way to the top of the rugby league talent tree and his lifelong dream.
“I definitely want to make it to the big time,” Blakemore said.
Yesterday Blakemore was confirmed as the starting hooker for the Newtown Jets SG Ball team after a successful training period and a solid performance against the Canterbury Bulldogs in a trial match on Monday night.
The Jets, who are a feeder club for the Sydney Roosters, were beaten 36-16 by the Bulldogs but Blakemore said he was happy with his game.
So was his coach Joel Greig.
“He went really well,” Greig said.
“He is a very good defender, has a good attitude and works hard.
“He is a good kid to have around the squad and exactly the type of player I want to coach.”
Blakemore, who played most of his junior rugby league with the West Maitland Red Dogs, found the Jets after he had trialled with the Roosters in October last year.
Following the trial the Roosters withdrew from the SG Ball competition and Blakemore was left with an uncertain future.
The Jets, who were one of the original clubs in Australia’s inaugural rugby league competition in 1908, then stepped in and decided to field a team in the under-18s competition.
Greig reviewed the footage from the Roosters trials and gave Blakemore, who was part of the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews squad in 2007, a call to join the squad of 35 players.
Now Blakemore, who played last season with the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs under-17s team, is in the final squad of 22 players and he will be looking to hold onto his place in the starting line-up.
The Year 12 student from Rutherford Technology High School will have another chance when the Jets, who last won a national rugby league title in 1943, take on the St George Dragons in a trial match at Matraville Sports High School on Saturday.
This will be followed by a trial against the Balmain Tigers at Balmain on Saturday, February 7 before the nine match SG Ball season kicks off Saturday, February 14 against the Bulldogs.
The Jets will also play the Western Suburbs Magpies, the Parramatta Eels, the Illawarra Steelers, the Central Coast and the Gold Coast throughout the season.
Now the Aberglasslyn 17-year-old is sidestepping his own way to the top of the rugby league talent tree and his lifelong dream.
“I definitely want to make it to the big time,” Blakemore said.
Yesterday Blakemore was confirmed as the starting hooker for the Newtown Jets SG Ball team after a successful training period and a solid performance against the Canterbury Bulldogs in a trial match on Monday night.
The Jets, who are a feeder club for the Sydney Roosters, were beaten 36-16 by the Bulldogs but Blakemore said he was happy with his game.
So was his coach Joel Greig.
“He went really well,” Greig said.
“He is a very good defender, has a good attitude and works hard.
“He is a good kid to have around the squad and exactly the type of player I want to coach.”
Blakemore, who played most of his junior rugby league with the West Maitland Red Dogs, found the Jets after he had trialled with the Roosters in October last year.
Following the trial the Roosters withdrew from the SG Ball competition and Blakemore was left with an uncertain future.
The Jets, who were one of the original clubs in Australia’s inaugural rugby league competition in 1908, then stepped in and decided to field a team in the under-18s competition.
Greig reviewed the footage from the Roosters trials and gave Blakemore, who was part of the Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews squad in 2007, a call to join the squad of 35 players.
Now Blakemore, who played last season with the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs under-17s team, is in the final squad of 22 players and he will be looking to hold onto his place in the starting line-up.
The Year 12 student from Rutherford Technology High School will have another chance when the Jets, who last won a national rugby league title in 1943, take on the St George Dragons in a trial match at Matraville Sports High School on Saturday.
This will be followed by a trial against the Balmain Tigers at Balmain on Saturday, February 7 before the nine match SG Ball season kicks off Saturday, February 14 against the Bulldogs.
The Jets will also play the Western Suburbs Magpies, the Parramatta Eels, the Illawarra Steelers, the Central Coast and the Gold Coast throughout the season.