To whet the appetite ahead of the 2018 Rugby League season, NSWRL.com.au looks at some of the up-and-coming male and female stars who will hope to represent NSW. Today, we run the eye over a young NSW Blues representative with a promising NRL future ahead of him.
Making his mark in the record-breaking Cronulla Sharks NYC outfit of 2017, NSW Under-20s representative Isaac Lumelume quickly developed the reputation of being a damaging centre with an abundance of size and speed.
A product of the NSWRL pathways program, Lumelume first donned the sky blue of New South Wales in 2016, in the Under-18 side’s emphatic win over the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium.
Fast-forward 12 months and again Lumelume was making his presence felt in the state’s colours, earning the praises of Under-20s mentor-turn-Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues Assistant Coach, Danny Buderus.
“Isaac is so happy in a lot of ways, he just wants to get involved,” Buderus tells NSWRL.com.au.
“He just wants to do what’s best for the team, especially coming out of the back end of the field; he just loves getting his hands on the ball.”
Although pushing for an NRL debut in 2018, Lumelume looks likely to feature in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW in the upcoming season for the Newtown Jets, who will benefit greatly from the rangy back’s physical presence.
Lumelume resumed light training with the Sharks before the Christmas break, after off-season surgery brought about an enforced layoff before the year’s end.
