21 Aug 2013
Dubbo College Year 11 student Kaide Ellis will travel to New Zealand during the next school holidays after qualifying for the New South Wales combined high schools' rugby league side. Kaide, who plays front row in the Dubbo College rugby league team and second row with Dubbo CYMS under 18s, will spend the first week of the holidays in training before flying out to Auckland in the second week.
"I've never been to New Zealand before so I am really looking forward to the experience," he said. "This is the first time I've reached State representative level and I think it's largely the result of training in the off-season with the Western Academy. I'm really excited about playing with the top players from throughout the State against the best in New Zealand."
A soccer player for four years, Kaide first moved into rugby league to play under nines with St Johns, before moving to the South Dubbo Raiders.
"I like playing second row," he said. "I've always been a big kid and felt I fitted into that position best of all."
In his junior career Kaide has played representative football with Group 11 and most recently took his place in the Western Rams side. He is also currently part of the Dubbo College team which has reached the semi-finals in the University Shield.
This year Kaide has trialled with the Penrith Panthers and has now been invited to trial in Penrith's SG Ball Cup squad for 2014.
"I'll still be going to Dubbo College but I'll be travelling to Sydney every Friday for training and then a game each Saturday," he said. "It's going to be a very busy year because I will also be undertaking my Higher School Certificate."