Braden has made the Lloyd McDermott Indigenous Under-16 squad of 22 players that will spend a week in what will be a special in the history of New Zealand rugby, during the World Cup series.

There will be a couple of games and the opportunity to spend some time with the Wallabies and watch them play a World Cup game against America.

Then on their return to Australia, Braden and his squad will play in the Australian Under-16s Schoolboys Championships at Riverview College in Sydney.

Braden’s father, Bobby Carney, said the squad selection was a bit of a surprise.

“I have to admit we’re a rugby league family and Braden’s only played a handful of rugby games as a flanker where’s he’s been selected,” Bobby said.

“But he’s really looking forward to the trip to New Zealand to the Australian Championships and hopefully he will get some quality game time.

“Our main focus now is to get a passport and put together the $750 levy needed.”

One can understand why rugby league is usually the main topic of conversion in the Carney household in Trangie.

Braden’s father Bobby represented NSW Country as a winger in 1987-88 in games on a tour of New Zealand and against City. In the second year Country toured Papua New Guinea and played in Sydney and in Brisbane.

Then years later Braden’s big brother Justin Carney chanced his arm with the Canberra Raiders in the Toyota Cup, pushed ahead to be in the NRL side before moving on to the Eastern Suburbs Roosters and despite an up and down season played in the centres in his side’s narrow 13-12 win over Parramatta last weekend.

Braden’s rugby league career has also taken off, playing on the wing for Dubbo CYMS in the under-18s but on Sunday they bowed out of the Group 11 competition losing to Macquarie Raiders.

But at school, the Year 10 student has been part of the rugby program at St John’s and it was suggested by teachers and coaches Justin McCarney, Ben O’Mally, Mark deBrincat and Andy Haycock that he should try out for the Lloyd McDermott squad.

Braden has played Fester Shield (Year-8) and Wiburd (Year-9) rugby with St John’s.

Although Braden has primarily been a winger, it was thought that there would be ‘plenty’ of backs on show, so why not give it a go as a flanker.

That move has paid off. Braden played for the Southern-ACT First XV at the recent Australian Indigenous Championships held on the Gold Coast.

His side won matches against a NSW Combined 15 and against Northern Queensland, but lost to a strong Southern Queensland outfit.

“They were three very good games of rugby,” Bobby Carney said.

“Against the State Combined side there was a lot of body contact but Braden stood up to that well and certainly wasn’t intimidated.

“The side played better as a team in the second game but the tough schedule took its toll in the third game against Southern Queensland.

“The Queenslanders were tough in the forwards and quick in the backs and we didn’t have the side to match them.

“However, the carnival was a good selection trial and for Braden to make the Lloyd McDermott squad is a proud moment for him and his family.”