Riley, who turns 16 in May, has played for the Narooma Junior Devils since age 5 and most recently he has played as the Under 16s’ hooker, the position he has also been selected to play for the Raiders.

Back in September, he went and trialled for the Raiders along with 280 other hopefuls and was selected to train in a squad of 55 youngsters from around the region.

Since October his parents have been driving him up to Canberra to train two afternoons a week with this increasing to three times a week this month.

He played in two trial games with the Raiders’ Under16s, first against the Western Suburbs Magpies in Goulburn and then against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Park.

Then just before Christmas, Jason said Riley was among the 30 young players invited back to keep training and after an in-house trial last week, the final squad of 20 was selected for the Canberra Raiders Under 16 Harold Matthews Cup Team.

Riley’s squad has another trial game next week against Penrith before the regular Harold Matthews Cup season starts with the first round game being against the Manly Sea Eagles in Canberra on Saturday, February 11.

Proud dad Jason said it was “huge” and that Riley was the only junior rugby league players from the South Coast and one of only four lads from outside Canberra to be selected, along with two juniors from Cooma and one each from Wagga and Goulburn.

Jedd continues his football development

ANOTHER Narooma young athlete Jedd Clothier is also progressing in his sporting career with an eye to play in the AFL.

Jedd, 16, last week travelled up to Coffs Harbour to represent ACT/South Coast in the Under 18 Joss State Zone Trials.

His team did really well winning five of six games and he is hoping to be selected to the 2012 NSW/ACT Rams Under 18 squad.

In the meantime, he is moving to Canberra to go attend Erindale College and also to play for the Belconnen Football Club.

He will also be travelling to Melbourne every couple of months to meet his Essendon Football Club scholarship commitments.