Duncan departs for Fiji

Adding to the experience, Duncan has never been outside Australia.

“It’s my first time overseas and it’s even better because it’s as part of a rugby trip,” he said.

The Country side will play three matches against Fijian opponents in seven days and Duncan spoke with the Champion shortly before they jetted off and said it was a surprise to be chosen in the team.

“I was selected from one of the bottom teams in the carnival at Newcastle when they picked the side back in May, so I wasn’t really expecting it,” he said.

On field performances at the country championships would suggest otherwise as Duncan was named best back of the overall carnival after several outstanding performances.

“I was playing outside centre and you have to perform the best in your position. There was a lot of competition for places and a lot of hard, tough rugby,” he said.

“But I think that’s good because you’ve got to earn your spot.

“A lot of the boys in the Central West, Hunter and Central Coast teams didn’t know where Moree was.”

Representative honours are not anything new for the 15-year-old after he had already represented Central North between under 12 and under 14 level as well as being the captain of the under 15 New England junior rugby side.

He has been playing rugby since the age of 10 and had started playing rugby league at seven years old.

He was also part of the Northern Inland Junior Gold Cup Rugby Development Program earlier this year.

Father, Percy Snr, said the family was extremely proud of his son and what he had achieved.

“He boards at TAS at the moment so it’s a lot of kilometres in the car for mum and dad, but it’s all worth it to see him selected in teams like this.”