Joey Fowler stars in the NSW Waratahs’ under-18s academy team’s victory against Queensland Reds

Narrabri boy Joey Fowler travelled to Brisbane on Saturday where he lined up for the NSW Waratahs’ Under-18s Academy first XV in a trial match against the Queensland Reds.

Joey, the son of Chris and Amanda Fowler, started at five-eighth in that game at GPS Rugby Club and played the entire 70 minutes in the Waratahs’ 32-13 victory.

The NSW side led 15-8 at half-time before outscoring the hosts 17-5 in the second stanza.

Joey was one of just three players on his team who have or will turn 17 in 2022 and was given the responsibility of goal-kicking for the NSW team.

He did so quite well as he slotted two penalty goals and two conversions to finish the match with 10 points.

The 17-year-old enjoyed his time on the field playing for NSW and said he was proud to have achieved one of his goals.

“It was pretty special,” Joey told The Courier.

“I’ve been working towards that for a while now.

“There were five Joeys boys in the team, which was good to see.

“Two were in the backs with me and the other two were in the forwards so it was good to be with them during the week.

“I’ve been in the Gen Blue system for a while now, but with COVID the past couple of years it’s just been academy
training for my age group.

“So it was just special to get out there and play on the weekend.”

Joey’s goal is to play rugby union professionally, and he took a massive step towards that by gaining selection into NSW Rugby’s Gen Blue first side and pulling on a Waratahs Academy strip on Saturday.

The side was put through a week of highly-professional training, which the former Blue Boar said benefited him and his teammates.

Michael Snowden coached the side, who many moons ago played for Tamworth against Joey’s father and Narrabri Blue Boars legend Chris.

Not only was Saturday’s game Joey’s first for the Gen Blue first XV, but it also continued his return from a shoulder injury.

The youngster required surgery at the end of last year and was sidelined until May.

He impressed at five-eighth for the St Joseph’s first team upon his return and after just two games was selected in the GPS seconds side.

He played five-eighth for that representative side in two games, which were both dominant victories, and from there earned the call up to the Waratahs Under-18s Academy first team.

Joey will now return to Hunters Hill and play for his St Joseph’s team after the school holidays. The five-eighth is determined to maintain a high standard and gain reselection in the Waratahs’ under-18s first team again later in the year.

From August, the NSW team will contest representative games against other states, and from those matches, an Australian Schoolboys team will be selected.