CLONCURRY rugby league product Kierran Moseley would love nothing more than pulling on the Maroons jersey.
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The 20-year-old this year represented the under-20s Queensland side in its 30-8 loss to New South Wales.
This experience has made the hooker thirsty to make the big event in the coming years.
“I’d 100 per cent want to wear that maroon jersey in the heat of a State of Origin battle,” Moseley said.
“Playing for the under-20s was a great honour this year and something I will never forget.”
But Moseley isn’t looking too far ahead, rather concentrating on his club footy and eventually breaking into the Penrith Panthers first-grade side.
“My goals right now are to play consistently each week for the reserve grade Panthers, improve my defence and eventually crack first grade,” he said.
Moseley was part of the Panthers under-20s side that won the Holden Cup in 2013 and this year has moved into the reserve grade.
“I’m still eligible to play under-20s but the club thought it was best to fast track me by playing tougher competition each week,” he said.
“There are five of us from the 20s that have been promoted into reserve grade to improve our strength and get used to the physicality of the game.”
Playing in the reserve grade has been beneficial to Moseley both on and off the field he says.
“Kevin Kingston has been playing with us in reserve grade lately and has been a great help to my game,” he said.
“All the older guys such as Kevin, Tim [Grant], Wes [Naiqama] and Jamal Idris have been great influences on our training habits and eating patterns.”
With so many big names playing reserve grade at the foot of the mountain, Garth Brennan’s men have shot to the top of the table.
“We have won 10 straight matches but it doesn’t feel like we have, because we always seem to drop our intensity for 20 minutes each match,” Moseley said.
“Garth tries to emphasise that the performance on the field is more important than the actual result.”
This thought process has rubbed off on Moseley, who only has eyes for this season with the Panthers and anything that eventuates is a bonus.
“Last year, I represented the under-20s Australian team against the Kiwis, which is the highlight of my career,” he said.
“It was spine-tingling pulling on the green and gold and then singing the national anthem next to your mates, so to do that again this year would be unreal.”
Moseley next year will endure a tough pre-season with the club and hopes to break into the club’s top 25.
“I’d love to make that top-25 squad for the Panthers next season, but I’ll have to prove that I’m worthy of it,” he said. “I still need to add a lot of muscle to my frame and wait for my body to mature, only being 20 years old.”
Positive things are happening at Penrith this season and if Moseley continues to improve, the sky is the limit for him.