INGHAM is closing in on the world stage after Herbert River Crushers players Kieran Quabba, Justin Castellaro and Colin Wilkie were named in Italy’s train- on Rugby League World Cup Squad.
The trio were included in the Azzurri’s 33- man squad named yesterday, and now face a nervous wait to see if they will make next week’s final 24- man team.
Castellaro and Wilkie — now with Queensland Cup team the Northern Pride — are past premiership winners with the Crushers and are counted among the club’s favourite sons, while Quabba remains part of the Inghambased club when not playing for the Townsville Blackhawks.
Quabba said representing the birthplace of his grandparents would be a dream come true.
Quabba has been included in a Azzurri squad featuring NRL stars James Tedesco, Paul Vaughan and Nathan Brown.
The Azzurri open their World Cup campaign against Ireland in Cairns on October 29, before playing USA at 1300 SMILES on November 4 as part of a double- header also featuring the Fiji and Wales clash.
“My nonno and nonni were born and grew up in Italy, and Ingham has a strong Italian heritage, so it means a lot to me personally,” Quabba said.
“Last year I went to Italy for the World Cup qualifiers and playing for the national team was an incredible experience.
“You just have to have a look at the players who are in this squad to know that it’s a strong team.”
Quabba, a former Cowboys Under- 20s captain, had a standout year for the Blackhawks and was a regular starter in coach Kristian Woolf’s team.
Woolf — as fate would have it — will also be at the World Cup as Tonga’s head coach.
The selection is a feather in Quabba’s cap even if he doesn’t make the final cut, and at 22 years of age has plenty of time on his side.
Wilkie, 31, is at the other end of the spectrum.
The former Crushers captain and Tully junior is racing the clock for fitness after suffering a medial ligament strain in the Pride’s final game of the regular Q Cup season.
Wilkie made a stunning return to Q Cup last year after being away from the secondtier competition for a decade, having played his last Q Cup games for Norths Devils during his early 20s.
“I feel great, I’m bouncing around and able to run.
“So all I need is the surgeon to give me the OK today,” said Wilkie, who recently re- signed with the Pride for 2018.
“When I came back to the Pride in 2016 this ( World Cup) was always in the back of my head. It was a big motivator for getting back into the Q Cup.
“We’ll see how I go, but for now all I can do is keep plodding along while my knee keeps holding up.”
Former Cowboys forward and Tully junior Joel Riethmuller was also named in the Azzurri squad, along with fellow North Queensland based players Gioele Celerino ( Tully Tigers) and Ryan Ghietti ( Northern Pride).
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