Warriors sign boom youngsters
June 27th 2008 09:21
Vodafone Junior Warriors captain Daniel O'Regan and prop Mataupu Poching are the latest players from the club's under-20 NYC team to commit to new contracts keeping them at Mt Smart Stadium.
O'Regan, who has been leading the NYC side from standoff, has signed a two-year deal to the end of the 2010 NRL season while Poching is on a one-year contract for 2009 with an option for 2010.
After turning 20 in February, they will be ineligible for the Vodafone Junior Warriors next year and will step up to train with the club's NRL squad at the end of this season.
O'Regan and Poching have followed fellow Vodafone Junior Warriors Sonny Fai (20), Russell Packer (18) and Ben Matulino (19) in signing new deals.
Fai, Packer and Matulino have all gained promotion from the NYC to debut in the NRL this year and Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary says O'Regan and Poching have the potential to follow them.
"We've already seen Sonny, Russell and Ben have a taste of the NRL after starting the year with the Vodafone Junior Warriors," he said.
"We see Dan and Upu as two other players who can go on to do the same.
"They've both been impressive in a side that has been going really well in the NYC.
"The form being produced by our under-20s is making a lot of people take notice and it shows how much this new competition is going to help our club in the future."
O'Regan and Poching both have strong sporting pedigrees.
O'Regan is the nephew of Ron O'Regan, the 1983-86 Kiwi who stood out as a talented and tough loose forward or standoff during his playing career. He played extensively for the Auckland representative side as well as Mount Albert and City-Newton.
And Poching can point to family links in football including a cousin Sika Poching who plays rugby union for Samoa. Mataupu Poching made 20 appearances for the Vodafone Auckland Lions in the New South Wales Premier League last year.
DANIEL O'REGAN
Born: February 3, 1988
Birthplace: Auckland, NZ
Position: Standoff/loose forward
Height: 183cm
Weight: 97kg
Junior Club: Mt Albert Lions (Auckland)
NRL Career: Yet to make debut
Representative: Junior Kiwis 2005
Educated: Kaipara College (Helensville)
MATAUPU POCHING
Born: February 7, 1988
Birthplace: Auckland, NZ
Position: Prop
Height: 187cm
Weight: 106kg
Junior Club: Mangere East Hawks (Auckland)
NRL Career: Yet to make debut
Representative: Junior Kiwis train-on squad 2007
Educated: Aorere College (Auckland)
| 35 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
