Junior Kumuls playmaker Ellyjah Birve is set to follow in the footsteps of Adrian Lam after being chosen in the Queensland team for Thursday night's Under 19s Origin at North Sydney Oval.
Lam, who was born in Rabaul, played 13 Tests for the Kumuls and is considered one of Papua New Guinea's greatest players. He was nicknamed The Kumul Kid.
Now coaching Leigh in the Super League, Lam was the first PNG international to play State of Origin in 1995 and represented Queensland on 14 occasions - 11 as halfback - while making 146 appearances for the Roosters and 119 with Wigan.
Birve is currently crafting his skills with the Penrith Panthers - a club known for developing junior talent - and is on the right track to emulate Lam at international and Origin level.
“Of course, it would be a dream to pull on a Maroons jersey and to be a part of the history of the Kumuls. That will be one of my goals in the future,” Birve said.
Birve's father hails from Lemakot in New Ireland Province and his mother is Torres Strait Islander. One of six siblings, he started his junior career at Cairns Kangaroos.
“I was following my brothers' footsteps as they were at the club at the time and my dad was coaching seniors," he said.
“As a young kid I always jumped into training with the older boys and that’s when I knew footy was my thing.”
The teenage five-eighth was taken by surprise when Maroons Under 19s coach Darius Boyd phoned to tell him of his selection for Thursday night's clash at North Sydney Oval.
“It was a phone call from Darius Boyd, one of Queensland's greats. It was a random number and I answered it, and he introduced himself and congratulated me,” Birve said.
“It was so unexpected and after the call I was shaking, but (it was) such a good feeling and a privilege to get that phone call."
Birve played in last year’s Junior Kumuls match against the visiting Australian Schoolboys and despite being on the wrong end of a 14-22 scoreline, he said the defeat had ignited a fire in his belly.
“The high level and intensity in the Kumuls v Aussie Schoolboys was immense, so I took every game in the SG Ball comp like it was that game where hard work and effort is a non-negotiable," he said. "I guess it’s kind of the same just representing different places."
Birve looks up to current Penrith Panthers, NSW Blues and Australian Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary and former Maroons great Johnathan Thurston as his role models.
“Being a part of the Panthers system a role model for me would be Nathan Cleary as we play the same position and I've gotten a lot of knowledge from him," Birve said.
"But overall, the player I looked up to was the GOAT, Johnathan Thurston."
Junior Orchids representative Tia Molo has also been named in the centres for Queensland U19s women. Molo is on a development contract with the Broncos.
Match: NSW U19s v QLD U19s
Round 1 -
home Team
NSW U19s
away Team
QLD U19s
Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Match: NSW U19s v QLD U19s
Round 1 -
home Team
NSW U19s
away Team
QLD U19s
Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
