A big weekend looms for north Queensland's Myles family.
While in-demand Bulldogs forward Nate Myles mulls over five NRL offers, his older brother Callan will face the heat in a shock debut for Cairns in the final of the Foley Shield - north Queensland rugby league's representative series.
Cairns Marlins will attempt to defend their Foley Shield title when they take on arch rival Townsville at the Townsville Sports Reserve on Saturday.
Callan Myles - a backrower or hooker - returned to his hometown Cairns earlier this year after lower grade stints in Sydney, where he played alongside Kiwi superstar Sonny Bill Williams in the Bulldogs' Jersey Flegg side.
He also featured for the Sydney Bulls in the Jim Beam Cup finals last year.
Two years older than Nate, Callan is similar in build to his sibling who played a major role in Queensland's successful State of Origin sides.
Marlins coach Troy Cummings said Callan Myles' impressive form for Cairns District Rugby League team Ivanhoes made him an ideal replacement for injured hooker Robbie Swain (ankle).
"Callan Myles has been playing outstanding footy, we don't want to make too many hearty changes but his form meant we had to include him, I saw him against Tully and he blew them away," Cummings told The Cairns Post newspaper.
Cairns defeated Mackay in last year's Foley Shield 36-32.
Townsville has not contested a final since 2003.
The Foley Shield has been contested almost every year since 1942 and has produced Origin stars such as Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen.
Meanwhile, Nate Myles also faces a massive weekend.
After playing for the Bulldogs on Friday night against St George Illawarra, Nate Myles will meet 2007 Canberra coach Neil Henry on Saturday morning in Sydney before flying to the Gold Coast to hold talks with the Titans.
He has already met with Melbourne officials and Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart and also received a new four-year deal from the Bulldogs on Thursday.
Foley Shield final teams:
TOWNSVILLE: Michael Rose, Billo Mosby, Chey Bird, Nathan Marles, Dean Payne, Nathaniel Bowman, Matt Groves, Greg Byrnes, Kieran Quagliotto, Dean Limpus, Neil Jesse, Craig Snell, Quentin Kersh. Interchange: Dennis Conlon, Kurt Olsen, Lee McLean, Craig Waia. Coach: Chris Perry.
CAIRNS: Victor Akiba, Leon Wallis, Jordan Jujnovich, Alex Starmer, Brendan Arcidiacono, Steve Ware, Steve Singleton, Tony Schaaf, Jason Roos, Adam Mills, Ryan Bartlett, Fale Apeesera, Palmer Wapau. Interchange: Daniel Scoble, Callan Myles, Richie Marsters, Ben Ketchell. Coach: Troy Cummings.
While in-demand Bulldogs forward Nate Myles mulls over five NRL offers, his older brother Callan will face the heat in a shock debut for Cairns in the final of the Foley Shield - north Queensland rugby league's representative series.
Cairns Marlins will attempt to defend their Foley Shield title when they take on arch rival Townsville at the Townsville Sports Reserve on Saturday.
Callan Myles - a backrower or hooker - returned to his hometown Cairns earlier this year after lower grade stints in Sydney, where he played alongside Kiwi superstar Sonny Bill Williams in the Bulldogs' Jersey Flegg side.
He also featured for the Sydney Bulls in the Jim Beam Cup finals last year.
Two years older than Nate, Callan is similar in build to his sibling who played a major role in Queensland's successful State of Origin sides.
Marlins coach Troy Cummings said Callan Myles' impressive form for Cairns District Rugby League team Ivanhoes made him an ideal replacement for injured hooker Robbie Swain (ankle).
"Callan Myles has been playing outstanding footy, we don't want to make too many hearty changes but his form meant we had to include him, I saw him against Tully and he blew them away," Cummings told The Cairns Post newspaper.
Cairns defeated Mackay in last year's Foley Shield 36-32.
Townsville has not contested a final since 2003.
The Foley Shield has been contested almost every year since 1942 and has produced Origin stars such as Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen.
Meanwhile, Nate Myles also faces a massive weekend.
After playing for the Bulldogs on Friday night against St George Illawarra, Nate Myles will meet 2007 Canberra coach Neil Henry on Saturday morning in Sydney before flying to the Gold Coast to hold talks with the Titans.
He has already met with Melbourne officials and Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart and also received a new four-year deal from the Bulldogs on Thursday.
Foley Shield final teams:
TOWNSVILLE: Michael Rose, Billo Mosby, Chey Bird, Nathan Marles, Dean Payne, Nathaniel Bowman, Matt Groves, Greg Byrnes, Kieran Quagliotto, Dean Limpus, Neil Jesse, Craig Snell, Quentin Kersh. Interchange: Dennis Conlon, Kurt Olsen, Lee McLean, Craig Waia. Coach: Chris Perry.
CAIRNS: Victor Akiba, Leon Wallis, Jordan Jujnovich, Alex Starmer, Brendan Arcidiacono, Steve Ware, Steve Singleton, Tony Schaaf, Jason Roos, Adam Mills, Ryan Bartlett, Fale Apeesera, Palmer Wapau. Interchange: Daniel Scoble, Callan Myles, Richie Marsters, Ben Ketchell. Coach: Troy Cummings.
