Tuesday, February 05, 2013

From Canberra, McCarthy is the only player outside of New South Wales or Queensland to represent Australia in the Youth series at the 2013 Super Trans Tasman Series, which is a credit to the extents he has gone to over the past couple of years to make the team.

When he was picked in the preliminary squads for the Youth Trans Tasman Series, McCarthy decided that in order to be one of the best in his age group across the country, he had to learn from some of the best.

Enter Australian representatives Matt Tope and Terry Deegan.

McCarthy decided to join the Wollongong Devils side that participates in the New South Wales Touch Association Vawdon Cup and State Cup events to play against some of the best players the country has to offer.

“When I got named in the 2011 preliminary squad for the 18’s I decided that I’d better stretch my horizons playing-wise. So all of the people down in Wollongong really helped me out for two years now so definitely going down there has made me a better player. That was the main reason I went down, to try and make this side,” McCarthy said.

“Matt Tope and Terry Deegan, they’ve been unreal, they’ve helped me out tremendously. Topey’s been giving me advice on what to do, how to conduct myself and all the experiences he’s had, he’s sort of worn it off on me.”

McCarthy says that making the team makes all of those trips up the Hume Highway worthwhile.

“Being named in the team it sure has. I was worried before we went away for the 18’s, I thought ’is all of this effort for nothing’ but standing here now, it’s all been worth it.”

The Youth teams commence their campaign on Tuesday afternoon and McCarthy says that the 18’s Boys team is ready to battle it out against New Zealand.

“I’m looking forward to it. I think we’ve got a pretty good young side and everyone’s working together,” he said.

“It will be something that I cherish when I get out there and hopefully I can do everyone back at home proud.”

“Mum and dad and my sister are coming. I’m so glad that they are here, they’ve been supporting me since I was about 10 when I first started playing.”

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