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Message: [QUOTE="Danoz Direct, post: 2785720, member: 8457"] [B]Kirwan High star Julian Christian primed to make next level[/B] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]KIRWAN State High School’s Julian Christian has achieved almost every accolade available in schoolboys rugby league, and now he is ready to take the next step. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]Christian today leaves for the Brisbane Broncos after being crowned Kirwan’s Sam Thaiday Medal winner — the school’s award for rugby league player of the year — for a second year after earning the prestigious award in Kirwan’s victorious 2015 national campaign. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]It is the first time a player has won the award twice and is a feat that even former Kirwan students such as Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) and Nene Macdonald (Titans) did not achieve. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]Christian’s win adds to the Peter Sterling Medal he won after being named player of the 2015 nationwide GIO Schoolboys Cup, and a handful of other individual accolades including player of the Aaron Payne Cup final and Matthew Bowen Nines’ player of the tournament. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]Christian finished his final day of Year 12 yesterday and travels to Brisbane today ahead of pre-season training with the Broncos, where he will train to secure a starting spot in the club’s under-20s side. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“I’ve got a long way to go, but this is where I want to be at the moment,” Christian said[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“There’s some mixed emotions because I’ll miss putting on this Kirwan jersey, and (Kirwan coach Dave) Ackers has taught us a lot.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“I don’t think I’ve ever come across a team like this and I’ll remember it forever.” [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]The elusive playmaker will start pre-season next week and will work with former Broncos, Queensland and Test player Justin Hodges, who will be an assistant coach with Brisbane’s under-20s.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]Hodges and Christian share similar history, having grown up in Cairns before pursuing their footy dreams.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“He (Hodges) is someone I’ve always looked up to, especially coming from Cairns and being indigenous, so it will be a privilege to work with him and the others,’ Christian said. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]In a sign of his humility, Christian handed his Kirwan No. 6 jersey back to Ackers following a photo with the [I]Townsville Bulletin[/I] despite Ackers’ insistence that Christian keep it as a memento.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“His attitude is good and that’s half the battle, so he’ll definitely develop into a good footballer,” Ackers said.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“He’s part of a special group of players who are now leaving us, so there is a bit of sadness seeing them go.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#232323][FONT=Merriweather Sans]“But we wish them all the best and we’ll be proud of them no matter where and how far they go with their footy.” [URL="http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/kirwan-high-star-julian-christian-primed-to-make-next-level/news-story/2517ccefeb6658e56dd5d80cea3b88c6"]No Cookies | Townsville Bulletin[/URL][/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

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