Young Canberra Raiders prop Paul Vaughan has taken a first major step toward his desire for higher representative honours after he was named in the NSW emerging squad for the first time on Friday.
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The Italian World Cup and NSW Country Origin representative joined Raiders teammate Jack Wighton in Blues coach Laurie Daley's 22-player squad, to converge in Sydney in January.
The 23-year-old said at the club's presentation night that he had re-signed with the Raiders until the end of 2017. He was arguably Canberra's most consistent prop in its 2014 campaign.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said he felt he was unlucky to be left out of Australia's Four Nations train-on squad, and Vaughan has made a Blues jumper a major goal.
"I'd like to make Country again, and wherever the year takes me, hopefully I can get higher rep honours," he said in September. "I'm hungry for that."
Raiders winger Edrick Lee was retained in the Queensland State of Origin emerging squad to meet in Brisbane from January 9-11, while cousin Brenko, Patrick Mago and Luke Bateman were named in the Maroons emerging squad (January 15-18.).
