VERSATILE Taree West Public School student Navren Willett could be selected in his fourth Hunter representative sporting team today.
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Navren, 12, heads to Newcastle to play trials for the Hunter rugby team. At this stage he’s not sure what position he’ll be trying out for.
“I’ve never played rugby,’’ he said.
“I don’t even know what positions they play.’’
Navren’s already made Hunter teams for rugby league, basketball and touch football. He is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana.
Rugby league and touch are Navren’s preferred sports. He made the Hunter league side in March following trials held at Salamander Bay. He expects to play either halfback for five-eighth for Hunter in the State championships, also to be held at Salamander. The team’s currently in training.
Basketball was next on the agenda. Navren said this was the most surprising selection of all.
“I don’t really play much basketball,’’ he explained.
“Just a bit with the school. But I’m not playing at the moment because the games are on Sundays.’’
He was among a group of players named to attend trials held at Maitland.
“They split us into sides and we had a few games,’’ he said.
“I got a few goals, but I didn’t expect to get picked (for Hunter). ‘’
Navren’s not sure when or where the State championships will be played.
“We haven’t started training yet,’’ he said.
Navren could be the first boy to gain Hunter selection from the Manning zone in basketball.
He’ll have four school mates from Taree West PS in the Hunter touch footy team. Navren, Kurt Walters, Josh Hopkins, Samira Mitchell and Taya Hunt were named in the side following trials at Wallsend. The team will be off to the State titles to be held at Wagga in August. Taryn Dixon from Wingham Brush Public School will be the coach.
Navren started playing rugby league with the Taree Panthers in the Group Three Junior competition when he was five. He’s now halfback for Doug Ferguson’s under 13 side.
He’ll be old enough for representative football next year and his ambition is to crack a spot in the Group Three team.
He turns out in the Taree junior touch football competitions played in summer and has also represented Taree at State Cup level.
As mentioned, his appearances at basketball have been more sporadic, although he said he might have a run next term when games revert to Saturdays for the Taree schools’ competition.
Navren is the school captain at Taree West.