Three of Cowra's top junior rugby league players will train along side some of the state's most exciting talent for a place in the Canberra Raider's junior representative teams for 2015.
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Magpies under 18s star and Group 10 grand final halfback, Tim Middleton earned selection into the Raiders' under 20s Holden Cup squad while the hard running Conor Brebner and young Jai Doolan had their names read out in the under 18s SG Ball and Harold Matthews under 16s training squads respectively.
After a successful debut year in the Magpies colours Middleton admitted selection into the training squad was a massive reward especially after the tragic grand final loss.
"Bloody oath it is, it was a change playing for the Magpies but I loved every minute of it," he said.
"It wasn't a great way to end the season and I wouldn't say this makes up for it but it's a good feeling.
With the trials taking place in late September, three weeks after the Group 10 grand final, Middleton said he was feeling the heat at the Raiders training grounds outside GIO Stadium and even after having a "yarn" with selectors he wasn't sure if he'd get the nod.
"I played in the first game so I didn't get a good look at the other players and wasn't real sure. I thought I played alright but was still shocked when I got the e-mail," he said.
Only 18-years of age Middleton understands how big of an opportunity he's been given with many locals going through the Raiders' junior representative ranks in recent years.
"If I did make the final cut it's only my first year in the 20s but that's a long way off," he said.
"It'll be a great experience just to train down there and to get my name in the system.
The 2014 Group 10 Coach of the Year and Magpies premier league coach Steve Sutton couldn't have agreed more, saying it's a massive opportunity particularly for Middleton and Doolan as Brebner is a Harold Matthews junior.
"Particularly for Jai [Doolan] and Tim [Middleton] they can really get their foot in the door," he said.
"It's the NYC (National Youth Competition/Holden Cup) for Tim, if he makes it he'd be playing live on Fox every weekend.
"If he wants to progress his rugby league career he's in the right place."
Having seen his son go through the junior representative ranks at the Raiders, Sutton says it's tough for young men from the country having to find work and look after themselves as well as train.
"I'm not sure what Tim's doing but I would advise him to try and find a cushy job indoors, particularly in the pre-season when it's 36-37 degrees it can become to much," he said.
Sutton said Brebner will be a starting front-rower for the SG Ball team while he thinks Doolan and Middleton are currently on the fringes of selection but remains confident they can make it. The young Raiders representatives begin training in early November.