It wasn’t the best weekend from a results point of view, but that didn’t Dubbo Kangaroos Josh Jasprizza and Pat Berryman making their mark for the NSW Country Cockatoos colts.
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The duo both spent some time out of position in the Colts round robin matches against NSW Gen Blue sides at Camden Rugby Park on Saturday.
The colts went lost all three, 30-minute games against the identified Shute Shield under 19 players from across Sydney, in a weekend that doubled as selections for a newly-formed Under 19s Rugby Championship (URC) which will run in September and October later this year.
Berryman said the experience was an incredible one.
“The scorelines? I don’t even remember!” he laughed.
“They capitalised on our mistakes very quickly and we couldn't’ afford to make many handling errors so that was one of the big things we learned.
“But from a central west point of view, all of the guys that got on had a cracker. Sam Greatbatch (Orange Emus) played well, Josh Jasprizza had a great run down there but it was the first time we all had a run together … it was good preparation for when we face Queensland Country.”
Berryman started on the bench for all three games but played 20 minutes across the day in his preferred position of halfback.
He was also thrown in as five-eighth for about 20 minutes.
“I thought I showed them what I could, with what time I had,” Berryman said.
“I just stuck to our structure and tried to give the boys as much as possible.
“I’ve played there before so it’s not a strange position for me … hopefully the selectors and clubs in Sydney saw what I had to offer.”
Berryman was not the only one playing out of position, with Jasprizza moving into the front row.
“He did very well,” Berryman said of his Roos clubmate.
“He’s having an absolute blinder there, identifying what he needs to do and doing it.
“He’s a pretty humble guy, but he’s a good player and he’s just getting better and better I think.”
Jasprizza returned the compliment.
“He played really well, controlled the game from 10,” he said.
Jasprizza relished playing tighthead prop.
“I was quite excited to run on as prop because they didn’t announce the positions until training on Saturday,” he said.
“It’s mostly just scrummaging that’s a bit different, but with the style the coach wanted us to play, it’s a more direct line than running on the outside.”
Both players relished the transition from junior to senior representative rugby, and the insight into a more professional campaign.
“It’s a whole different set-up … it was so organised and structured,” Berryman said.
“It was really good to have that opportunity, because that’s what it’s like in the professional world.”
“It was good to meet all the boys that I’m playing with and it was a different style of rugby but I enjoyed it,” Jasprizza said.
“When we stuck to our structure it was quite good.
“I was just thankful to be there. I had a good time.”