The assistant coach of the Junior Kangaroos Danny Buderus said he was super impressed with the display from the young side during the 46-22 thrashing of the junior Kiwis in Canberra on Friday.
“I think you’ll see these guys in first grade in the next 12 months or 24 months,” said Buderus.
“They are in the elite of the elite, the best in the country and they play so well, so many good players.”
The Junior Kangaroos raced out to a 30-0 lead by the break with nib Newcastle Knights’ own Sam Stone scoring the first try.
“Sam Stone was so consistent and just professional in his manner doing what he’s displayed all year in the top grade,” commented Buderus.
“He is becoming more confident now and when his body shape fills out he’s going to have a big career ahead.
“He is a very good kid, very stable and had a good upbringing.”
The former Knights legend admits at last week’s training camp, Stone looked more comfortable as time went on.
“I was watching him a little bit, he only had two sessions but I think he got some respect off the players, just through a bit of training they grow,” said Buderus.
“Stone is one of those guys that they all definitely respect.”
Buderus said he is also pleased with Stone's progress as a player.
“Really consistent, really solid, he runs a really good line,” said Buderus.
“They used him up a couple of times and sucked a lot of players in and went up the back.
“Any time that big frame of Stoney comes at you, it just attracts players so a couple of times that happened and obviously he got the first try but defensively he was superb again.”
Buderus says spending time at the training camp for the Kangaroos will be a benefit for the young Knights forward.
“You just see how differently things are done, how players prepare, how coaches prepare, what they do differently,” he said.
“An experience like this is so worthwhile for him and as a Club, with ten players out in the rep round, it’s a perfect opportunity for them to go and freshen up mentally.”
