Kangaroos forwards Andrew Ryan and Dean Pay are expected to be two of the first players picked by selectors when Dubbo St John’s College celebrates 40 years in rugby league at a special dinner on Friday March 27.
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Current Gold Coast forward Daniel Conn is also expected to be popular with the judges.
Conn represented Australian Schoolboys Under-15s in 2001 while Pay earned the same accolade in 1984, as did Bernard Wilson in 1987.
Ryan and Pay went on to play Test matches for Australia and State of Origin for New South Wales and both won NRL premierships.
The 40-year celebrations will include a college assembly in the morning and finish the same evening with a gala dinner at the Amaroo Hotel for parents, ex-students and supporters.
St John’s College teachers Greg McIntosh, Andy Haycock and Brett Murphy are part of the organising team and they have assembled a group of selectors who have been involved with rugby league in Dubbo for a great number of years.
"The people we have chosen as selectors have been asked to name their first 13 players in positions as well as four reserves,” McIntosh said yesterday.
“We thought rather than naming only one team it would be more interesting to see who each selector chose.
“The only set criteria for selecting the side is that the players attended the college for at least one full school year.
“Current St John’s principal Warren Frew is one of the selectors, along with John and Kevin Walkom, Geoff Mann, Pat Yeo and Mick Wilson.”
McIntosh confirmed the dinner would also serve as a season launch for St John’s College rugby league as well as a history display and fundraiser.
“It will also be a social occasion for parents and past students to reflect on the last 40 seasons of rugby league,” he said.
“Our master of ceremonies will be Men of League CEO Martin Cook and the cost has been kept at a minimum of $10 which will be for finger food and there is an optional $10 for Men Of League membership.
“Funds raised from the night will be used for the college rugby league program this year.”
McIntosh said St John’s would be playing in the under-13s, 15s and opens divisions in the Andrew Ryan and Country Cup, the Under-14 NSW Catholic Knockout Cochrane Cup and the Under-16 Western Catholic Championships.
In the past month more than 70 boys have attended training sessions and trial, so they are hoping to come up with some very good squads.
Today St John’s will be playing in the Arrive Alive Cup at Apex Oval.
