He’s excited and somewhat nervous, but Kinross and NSW Schoolboys tearaway Fletcher Rose can certainly see the funny side of the unexpected turn his preparation for the Australian Under 17 Championship has taken too.
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Rose is in the final stages of getting ready for the national titles and flies out for Brisbane on Sunday. It’ll his maiden appearance for a NSW side and it’s coming just days after claiming the unlikeliest of state titles.
In javelin, of all sports.
Despite no practice at all, outside competing at the Kinross and then Independent Sporting Association carnivals, Rose sealed the NSW Combined Independent Schools javelin title, impressively throwing more than 55 metres.
“I’m not sure how it happened, I have no idea, I just turned up and threw it. I got to NSW All Schools for it now too, but I don’t think I’ll be very good,” Rose laughed, he beat out a number of superb javelin throwers too.
Rose was named in the state side after impressing for Country-City at the NSW Schoolboys Championship earlier this year and although he’s not certain what his role will be, he’s expecting to be among the side’s spearheads in Brisbane.
Although, as anyone who’s played with or against him knows, Rose is more than capable with willow in hand as well.
“I can’t wait, it’s my first NSW selection. I genuinely have no idea what to expect really,” Rose said.
“The weather was pretty bad (at the state titles) and we only played two games, but I played alright. I think selectors might have looked at my history a bit too.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what my role will be but I’d be surprised if I wasn’t playing as a quickie to be honest, hopefully we can get a few wins and I can put my name out there a bit more. It could open up a few pathways for me.”
Rose is joined in the side by Dubbo’s Marty Jeffrey, and will then turn out for the Western Zone colts against a combined St George-Penrith side in Sydney the week after.
Then he’ll roll into the Orange District Cricket Association season, Rose has been named in the Bluebaggers’ Western Zone Premier League squad as well.
“It’ll be nice to get a bit of cricket under my belt before the normal season, without injuries too,” he said, lower back issues stifled the big quick last summer.
A shoulder complaint also restricted his appearances in for Kinross on the rugby field this year, but he said he’s 100 per cent leading into the national titles next week.
The Australian Under 17 Championship kicks off on Monday.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
