Mortimer ready for the young and the restless

Daniel Mortimer could be excused for thinking Monday night’s clash with the Raiders at Parramatta Stadium is a junior country Rugby League reunion.<br><br>Mortimer played alongside five of the current Raiders players in Country representative teams– Shaun Fensom, Josh Dugan, Jarod Croker, Daniel Vidot and Joel Thompson.<br><br>In a great sign for Rugby League development in the country, six players are set to showcase their talent in the top grade after starting as juniors in the bush.<br><br>“I played with a lot of their boys in country teams and they have big futures ahead,” Mortimer said.<br><br>“Joel Thompson and Shaun Fensom in country under 18s and Western Academy sides, Daniel Vidot in the AIS squad, Croker in the schoolboys.<br><br>“Josh Dugan as well, he’s always been a great talent.<br><br>“They have some really good years ahead of them with that young squad.<br><br>“It shows that there is a lot of talent out in the country and it needs to be found.”<br><br>Mortimer is hoping to recapture the form that saw him burst onto the scene in 2009.<br><br>By his own admission, the Eels youngster believes he has underperformed and acknowledged that his second season has already proved a lot more difficult.<br><br>“Yeah definitely (found it harder this year),” he said.<br><br>“When you do make a bit of an impact people try to shut it down and obviously there are a few players in our team that teams try to shut down.<br><br>“But I think there has been a lot of focus on our side and teams are really doing their homework and lifting for our games.<br><br>“Last year we played in the Grand Final which is the most pressure a player can be under, especially at my age.&nbsp; The hardest thing about Rugby League is staying at the top for a long period of time.<br><br>“I’ve been training my butt of and have confidence in my ability so I’m sure it will take care of itself.”