Young Sharks forward Jesse Colquhoun will become Shark #553 after being named to make his NRL debut in the game against the Cowboys tonight.
Just 20-years of age, Colquhoun will start the game from the interchange bench following the withdrawal of Siosifa Talakai who sustained a shoulder Injury in Wednesday's Origin match.
Signed to a two-year NRL contract for the 2023 and 2024 seasons just a month ago, Colquhoun played his junior football at the Collegians club in Wollongong, left his local area in search of an opportunity and has now earned an NRL debut to go with his recently upgraded deal.
When announcing his new contract in an interview with Sharks Media, Colquhoun praised a number of his senior teammates, with the youngster to run out with those very players in his first game in the top grade.
“Dale Finucane, Cam McInnes, Andrew Fifita, I’ve learned a lot from them, not just to be a better rugby league player but also to be a better man. They’ve helped me a lot along the way,” he said.
Originally signed to a short pre-season contract for the before Christmas training block, Colquhoun impressed the right people to have his stay with the NRL squad extended, to where he has never left.
While training with the NRL team, Colquhoun has spent the 2022 season playing for the Newtown Jets in the KOE NSW Cup despite still be eligible for the under-21 Jersey Flegg competition.
“Coming in here for just a seven-week pre-season, I thought I was just going to take in as much as I could, and to still be here and sign a two-year contract off the back of that, I can’t believe it,” Colquhoun said.
The Colquhoun story has been one of resilience and perseverance. Overlooked in his own area he headed up the highway to trial for the Sharks in the under-18’s, battled through the Covid affected years, with his determination now paying off.
“I trialed at an (Sharks) open SG Ball trial, I was lucky enough to get selected in the squad and it’s been an uphill climb from there,” he said. “It was tough only playing 17 games in two years, but I kept training hard and it’s paid off.”
Colquhoun will be in number 19 jersey for the Sharks v Cowboys game, matching two teams fighting for a spot in the top four. The match kicks off at 6.00pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium later tonight.
See above the Sharks Media interview with Colquhoun when recently announcing his new two-year NRL contract.
Fact File
Jesse Colquhoun – Shark #553
Born – 12-10-2001 – Wollongong
Position – Front Row/lock
Height – 190cm
Weight – 106kgs
Junior Club – Collegians JRLFC (Wollongong)
