footballer’ has given Cootamundra’s Luke Berkrey a chance to cement his place in the Group Nine side for this year’s Country Championships.

Berkrey, who has returned to the Bulldogs’ kennel this year after a

number of seasons in the Canberra Raiders junior system, was one of the Group Nine All Stars best in their

26-18 loss to the Indigenous All Stars at Wagga’s Equex centre.

As a result Berkrey has been named in an 18-man team to play Group 10 in a trial at Young on March 31,

following which selectors will

finalise their squad for the Country Championships beginning on April 28.

Group Nine president Jack Morton said Berkrey was chosen as much on reputation as his performance on Saturday night.

“Luke has come back to the group with big wraps on him,” Morton said.

“I was unable to attend Saturday night’s game, but from all accounts he played very well.

“He’s now got another chance to show us what he is capable of in the trial game at Young.

“Luke’s got size, strength and skill and football these days is all about being mobile.

“He’s also a tough player and having been in the NRL system with Canberra knows what it takes to take his game to the next level.”

Morton said with the Group Nine side short on big men, Berkrey may be thrust into front row at some stage.

“Luke has essentially been selected as a back rower, but he may be pushed up front. He’s certainly got the skills to be adaptable.”

Morton said Coota’s two

representatives in the Indigenous team, Aaron Byrne and Mick Glanville, were unlucky not to be selected in the trial squad, however the ‘door remains open’.

“Aaron is a class player and a good bloke to have around a team, however he was up against a very good hooker in Kyle McCcarthy,” he said.

“Mick was one of a number of young blokes who were given a chance and by all reports he took it with both hands with a strong showing.”

Not surprisingly defending Group Nine premiers Southcity have a strong representation in the side with seven Bulls players named, as eight of the 11 clubs are represented.

The Group Nine is as follows:

Scott Bowden (Southcity)

Luke Berkrey (Cootamundra)

Robbie Byatt (Tumbarumba)

Brett Eccleston (Gundagai)

Daniel Foley (Junee)

Adam Hill (Kangaroos)

Joseph Ioane-Toetu (Tumut)

Ben Jeffrey (Albury)

Phil Latu (Junee)

Peter Little (Southcity)

Pani Manawatu (Southcity)

Kyle McCarthy (Southcity)

Will Merritt (Southcity)

Keiran Schauf (Southcity)

Fetongi Tuinauvai (Tumut)

Matt Ward (Gundagai)

Cameron Woo (Gundagai).