Boom rookie achieves feat not seen in 40 years

A youngster who yesterday achieved what nary Australian sportsman has managed for 4 decades is acceptable to motion a declaration with the Penrith Panthers.

Ryley Smith, a promising 18-year-old hooker, woke up yesterday greeting to quality that helium had been selected successful the Australian Schoolboys league merit team.

READ MORE: Fallout continues aft Latrell Mitchell's deed connected Joey Manu

READ MORE: Gould says 'this twelvemonth is the softest comp I've ever seen'

That followed his enactment past twelvemonth successful the Australian under-18 cricket team, making him the archetypal subordinate to triumph greenish and golden honours successful the 2 large sports since Souths prima Bronko Djura successful the aboriginal 1980s.

Ryley Smith is acceptable to beryllium signed by the Panthers. (Instagram)

"It (being selected) was a bully happening to aftermath up to," Smith, a level-headed and mature 18-year-old told Wide World of Sports.

"I conscionable finished my HSC yesterday truthful it was a treble origin for celebration."

The youngster from St Dominics astatine Kingswood captained Sydney Under-18s to triumph implicit Country earlier this twelvemonth and has besides played interaction shot for NSW astatine inferior level.

A hooker successful the mould of Melbourne namesake Brandon Smith, helium has been pursued by respective clubs but helium and his manager Steve Shearer person decided to motion with the Panthers and hopefully articulation the archetypal people squad connected a improvement declaration adjacent season.

In summertime, Smith is an assertive opening batsman who has already played archetypal people for Penrith successful the Sydney people contention contempt his tender years.

Smith knows that - conscionable arsenic Djura did backmost successful the '80s - yet helium volition person to take betwixt his 2 sporting loves.

Ryley Smith excels astatine some cricket and rugby league. (Instagram)

Djura chose league and had a good vocation astatine Souths and St George, playing astir 100 archetypal people games.

"People support asking maine and I honestly don't cognize which absorption I volition instrumentality successful the agelong term," helium said.

"I americium getting large enactment from some codes and emotion them some - we'll conscionable spot what happens."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!