QUEANBEYAN Blues young gun Jake Wheeler will start in the Canberra Raiders National Youth Competition side for the third time this Sunday when the Raiders travel to Brookvale Oval to play the Manly Sea Eagles.
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The selection came off the back of a brilliant second game for the NYC side by the Bungendore product, where he dived over in the corner to score the match-winner against the Melbourne Storm last Sunday.
He will line up with three fellow Queanbeyan juniors in Brett Soloman, Josh Baker and Trent Schubach, which will be the best local representation so far this season.
Wheeler said his try against the Storm, playing on the wing, was the highlight of his NYC career to date.
"I just wanted to pull something out for the boys hoping it came off, and luckily it did in the end," he said.
Fullback is Wheeler's preferred position, but he said he will just be happy to be in the team no matter where he plays.
The 19-year old injured his left knee after his debut for the Raiders in round three against the Gold Coast Titans, but is now fully fit again.
"It'll be a tough road trip to Manly, but we're staying overnight so we should be well prepared," he said.
While Wheeler is chasing an NRL dream, he cherishes the grass roots of the game, and still attends Blues team training from time to time.
Should he miss NYC selection throughout the year he will likely play for them in the Canberra Raiders Cup under coach and former NRL legend Simon Woolford, who in a part time coaching role at the Raiders still keeps and eye out for Wheeler.
"Simon has a lot of knowledge that he's passed onto the boys and I think that's shown through the Blues' great season last year...he's had a big impact and that's why former Raiders Marc Herbert and Trevor Thurling went to the club as well," he said.
Baker, Soloman and Schubach each come from the Roos, and Wheeler said the great Queanbeyan derby still makes it into the NYC camp.