Rangers kid set to tackle Rhinos
Last updated 11:50, Wednesday, 08 October 2008
EGREMONT Rangers teenager John Paul Brocklebank will make his Cumbria debut in tonight’s clash against South Africa Rhinos.
The half-back has been in outstanding form for Egremont this season, building on his impressive summer for Barla Great Britain Under-18s on their tour of Australia.
The GB vice-captain was just pipped for the players’ player of the tour award at a farewell dinner at Penrith Panthers RL Club. He was beaten in to second place by tour skipper Johnny Young of Skirlaugh.
“He’s come on leaps and bounds and is a big lad for a stand-off,” said Cumbria’s joint coach Gary Charlton.
“You must take your chance when it arises, and we expect good things from him.”
Brocklebank is set to play off the bench at Barrow tonight (7pm), with the more experienced Eddie Robinson, of Ellenborough, and Wath Brow’s Ryan Robb, the starting half-backs.
Charlton saw South Africa go down 55-12 to Lancashire in their tour opener on Sunday but is reading nothing in to the result, as they had touched down in England only 24 hours earlier.
“They’d been 12 hours on a plane, and it wasn’t the best preparation to play a well-drilled Lancashire team,” Charlton added.
“But they are a big bunch and played well in parts. All the play on Sunday came off their hooker.
“They’ve brought a squad off 28 and we’ve only seen 17. We don’t know what the other 11 are like.”
South Africa face Yorkshire on Sunday and the following Friday play Barla GB at Hull KR.
