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Sport with Chris Karas – TWT local Newspaper

The Weekly Times

Emerging cub Alex Seyfarth – earns NSW jumper

WESTS Tigers may be in the NRL doldrums but there is no shortage of talent in their thriving junior nursery.

Latest cub to burst onto the scene is promising young forward Alex Seyfarth (pictured), a top prospect from the Balmain S.G Ball ranks.

A product of the Dundas Shamrocks Juniors, Seyfarth realised a dream last week when he ran out with the NSW U/18s in a junior interstate challenge against Queensland at ANZ Stadium.

The strong running forward made an impact in the Junior Blues’ thrilling 35-28 victory over the Maroons, impressing keen judges with his high work rate on the left edge in elite company.

Under the tutelage of league greats Brad Fittler (coach) and manager Paul Sironen, the Junior Blues showed courage and skill to sink their Queensland rivals in a crackerjack contest in front of a sellout crowd of 83,000.

The selection of Alex in the Blues’ squad was a just reward for his powerful performances for the Tigers in this year’s NSWRL U/18 S.G Ball Cup series.

Seyfarth, 18, turned in non-stop performances as the cubs roared into the finals series before linking with the Ryde Eastwood U/19s that currently lead the Combined Sydney U/19 Div 1 competition.

One of the first to congratulate young Alex on earning a NSW jumper was his life time mentor – Balmain S.G Ball and Ryde Eastwood head coach Michael Frain.

“Alex has been a consistent player for the Tigers’ junior representative sides over the past few years and has handled the step up in class,” said Frain, who has guided the rangy back rower throughout much of his career.

“He has proved the mainstay of our forward pack, quickly developing his game in the Harold Matthews and S.G Ball Cup ranks against the State’s best juniors.”

“Alex deserved his NSW spot and has a bright future ahead of him,” predicted Frain.

Seyfarth served eleven seasons with the Shamrocks, joining the club in U/7s and playing a key role in the yellow and greens’ U/16 Div 2 premiership victory over Greenacre in the Combined Sydney Grand Final in 2015.

With its Holden Cup squad crippled by injuries and defections, Wests Tigers officials will blood the young forward in the Under 20 ranks for the remainder of the season.

It should prove a good learning curve for Alex, who is also keen to back up and help the Ryde Eastwood Hawks capture this year’s Combined Sydney U/19s crown.