Dungog junior Warrior under-9s dummy half Charlotte Baker has been selected along with her teammates to represent NSW in the inaugural Holden Junior State of Origin in Sydney on June 1.
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The under-9s team will take on the Clermont Bears from Queensland in a curtain-raiser clash to Game 1 of the 2016 Holden State of Origin at ANZ Stadium.
For 8-year-old Charlotte, the trip is a dream come true.
“I love playing footy at Dungog with my friends, but I never thought I’d be playing in Sydney in front of a big crowd and get to meet some of Australia’s best players,” Charlotte said.
“I only started playing this year because my brother Nicholas plays in the under-11s and he said I would be a good player.
“I did a video when they were up here a few weeks ago to announce the competition and I can’t believe I’ve won.
“I love watching football – it’s a much better game than soccer – and I’ve never played on a big field before. It’s going to be so much fun.”
As well as playing in the Junior State of Origin, Charlotte will toss the coin for the Blues vs Maroons game and together with her team, will form a guard of honour for the NRL players.
The prize includes accommodation for three nights, meals, training session with rugby league legends on the day prior to the game and then VIP tickets to the main game.
The announcement was made at Dungog’s Bennett Park, home of the junior and senior Warriors, on Thursday afternoon.
Charlotte’s grandmother Lyn Foster, who is raising Charlotte and her two siblings, said she just wouldn’t have been able to give them this wonderful opportunity.
“I just can’t believe we are all going down too,” she said.
“All my five sons played rugby league when they were younger and to see Charlotte take up the game is fantastic.
“We watched the test last Friday night and Charlotte kept saying she would love to win the trip to the State of Origin.
“And now that dream has come true for her . . . and all of us too.”
The event was filmed by the Wide World of Sports with footage to be shown at the State of Origin game.
Holden’s Executive Director Marketing, Geraldine Davys said Holden was thrilled to make this opportunity possible for the club.
“The Dungog Warriors Junior Rugby League Club came to our attention when it applied for a Holden Home Ground Advantage grant to replace damaged uniforms and equipment following the floods in 2015 and earlier this year,” Geraldine said.
“We’re thrilled to be playing a small part in the town’s recovery and to providing this unique Junior State of Origin experience for some of Dungog’s footy-mad kids,” she added.
Holden recently awarded the club a $10,000 Home Ground Advantage grant to purchase much-needed jerseys along with new safety equipment and upgraded storage facilities.
Charlotte’s uncle and under-9s team coach Roy Watkins said the kids were beside themselves with excitement.
“I’m not sure who was more excited when we heard the news, me or the kids!” Roy said.
“We can’t wait to take on the Clermont Bears – we’re stepping up our training with and we expect to put on a show in Sydney,” he added.
