Nathan Pentecost, the captain of the Penrith Panthers Wheelchair Rugby League team, has been selected to represent NSW in its first ever match against Queensland next month.
The inaugural interstate showdown will be played in Brisbane on July 2, with plans to expand the concept into a three-match ‘State of Origin’ series from next year.
Martin Meredith, Participation Manager for the NRL, and a board member of the governing body of WRL in Australia, said a strong NSW-Queensland rivalry will help develop the sport.
"There is great passion for rugby league on either side of the Tweed River and Wheelchair Rugby League gives all people a chance to play," Mr Meredith said.
"A rivalry between the states is a big concept in the running game and that will be emulated in the wheelchair version."
Pentecost is no stranger to representative-level WRL, having played for Australia in 2004 and 2008, and led NSW City to victory over NSW Country earlier this year.
He is also currently training for Pentecost’s Panther Push for Kokoda, where he will push himself 100km around the Sydney International Regatta Centre on July 24-25 to raise money for the Panthers on the Prowl Kokoda Leadership Project.
The NSW Wheelchair Rugby League team is as follows:
Nathan Pentecost, Jason Attard, Daniel Begman, Yara Ryan, Mitch Stone, Stephan Rochecouste, Fabian Castillo, Craig Piggott, Craig Cannane, Brad Groves, Steve Hewson (coach).
