The comment from year 9 Inverell High student Tyler Connors was all about his disbelief in making the NSW Combined High School Boys Under 15 touch side.

A few weeks later, the 15-year-old still had a grin on his face.

“I didn’t believe her, I couldn’t believe it. It was pretty good.”

His zone and North West touch teammate Lachlan Turner, 14, also made the rare cut and the two are the only boys in the region to head to state.

“Only us two out of the North West team, too,” Lachlan said.

A young woman from Bundarra is joining the boys at Narrabeen.

Kimberley O’Donnell was chosen for the CHS Girls Under 15 touch side during state trials at Mudgee. 

Her mother Karen said after a two-hour wait, the team players were announced but the news of her success did not really click until they were driving home. Kimberley admitted it was exciting news.

“I was stunned,” she said.

The year 9 Bundarra Central School student was praised by her coach Ian Ryan for her commitment to the team and willingness to quietly go about her job. 

Like the two Inverell High boys, Kimberley usually plays middle, “scooping, and breaking the line, so I scoop from dummy half and pass it off to someone else from my team, and they score,” she said.

Lachlan said the CHS coach would use strategy and structure to unify the players from across the state, and Tyler said the players would do their own part by making friends.

“Get to know the boys, before we get into training, usually, and if you know people on your team personally, it’s all right,” he said. 

“It’s a bonus,” Lachlan added.

The competition has been stripped down, and the CHS boys and girls will face only the Catholic and independent school teams for the state finals in Narrabeen over July 30 and 31.