Blake Gurney, who was also part of the NSW Country Cockatoos squad this season, is in the Illawarra under 17s squad, while Taj Winkler, who this season played for Kiama this season as Shoals didn’t field a team, is in the under 13s squad.

Joining Gurney in the under 17s squad are Manaia Cairns, Blake Curls, Cooper Hansen, Ford Pasese, Aden Jones, Liam Surgeoner, Samuel Cantwell, Aidan Wearne Tuakana Rangihaeta, Tremane, Malafu, Max Donovan, Kane Bell, Angus Hodgson and Alex Swan.

While Winkler’s squad also features Blake Halser, Seth Too, Ben Whyte, Tobias Crowe, Palu Tausala, Jasper Scobie, Heith Pritchard, Angus Mcilwaine, Michael Milross-Rose, Marcus Hasler and Preston Hansen – with Jai Duncan, Zacc Lewis, Harry Middleton and Evan Thomas named as shadow players.

The under 15s Illawarra squad contains Radif Kains, Micah Gibson, Ian Du Tait, Jaydontalu Viliamu, Ryan Hodgson, Samuel Milross-Rose, Tyla O’Brien, Oliver Downey, Hamish Pinn, Rory Lawrence, jack Crehan, Cohen Schofield, Jarvis Austin and Simon Balum.

Training for all three squads commenced this week at Avondale’s Gerry Capetta Oval, ahead of the state champs later in the year.