PORT Macquarie keeps producing the goods when it comes to sporting talent.
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Identified as an exciting rugby league prospect, 19 year old Sam McIntyre has signed a three year National Rugby League contract with the Wests Tigers.
It means he will be in the famous club’s top tier of players at the highest level – a massive achievement for a young man who works tirelessly on and off the field.
Starting with the Port City Breakers in the under 6s, McIntyre moved to the Port Sharks when he was 11 and went on to make several group 3 representative sides.
He also gained selection for the Northern Country team where he was noticed by the Newcastle Knights and signed to their under 16s squad.
After that he undertook the high performance unit program and was then selected for SG Ball for the Knights before moving to the under-20s this year where he has been a starting second rower all season.
“I would have liked to stay in Newcastle but the opportunity with Wests was too good to pass up,” he said.
“A year ago I didn’t see myself in this position this quickly. It’s my dream, and I’ve taken the opportunities and things have come off so I’m stoked.”
He admits it took a while to sink in when he first signed the contract but he is looking forward to the pathway offered to him by the Tigers, who are coached by Ivan Cleary.
He is being groomed for first grade, with the Tigers having a host of older players, such as Chris Lawrence, ready to retire from the NRL by the end of 2018.