READY TO ROCK

TWO of the Riverina’s brightest rugby league products will take an important step on the pathway to playing in the NRL this season. Temora’s Josh McCrone and Wagga’s Nick Skinner have both been named in Canberra Raiders’ NRL squad for the opening trial of the season tomorrow night. In a major boost to the pair’s chances of making their NRL debuts this year, McCrone and Skinner will both play for Canberra against Cronulla at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan. Speaking from Canberra yesterday, McCrone yesterday said he was looking forward to the opportunity to impress the Raiders coaching staff against Cronulla. “It will be a great chance for me,” McCrone told The Daily Advertiser. “They have named a lot of the new and young blokes for this match so it will be a very good chance for all of us playing to show what we have got.“I will be out there looking to do my best and gain some match fitness as well.” McCrone, a talented halfback, rejoined Canberra at the end of last season after an unsuccessful stint with NRL rival Penrith. Skinner, a big prop, was an integral member of Canberra’s premiership-winning Toyota Cup under 20 team and has been retained by the Raiders. McCrone yesterday revealed his dream of making his NRL debut this season and said he was in with a solid chance of playing in the top grade for Canberra. “I will just take it trial by trial and week by week,” McCrone said. “But ever since I started playing footy when I was four years old I have always aspired to play at the highest possible level. “We don’t have that many halves options at the moment so I should be in with a pretty good chance. “Hopefully I can (play NRL) this year.”McCrone said he was enjoying being back in Canberra and was determined to “make amends” after playing last season with Penrith’s feeder-club Windsor in the NSW Cup. “I played NSW Cup all last year and I didn’t have a great year,” McCrone said. “I am turning over a new leaf this year. “I want to gain a bit more muscle and work on my defence. “I have slipped straight back into everything here (Canberra).”