Young guns Sam Cooper and Jayden Lehman are flying the coup to the nation’s capital as they both will be living in Canberra for university studies. 

Lehman, who already lives in Canberra for uni, was travelling back last season to play for his hometown club. 

Both Lehman and Cooper have played with the Crows since their junior days. 

Cooper will be taking up a spot with the Belconnen Magpies and was looking forward to the challenge. 

“I’ve played all my junior footy with Leeton,” he said. 

“I sort of really stuck around last year and put off going to uni just so I could stay and play footy here. 

“I’m glad I did, especially because we won the premiership, but it was good to get another year under my belt.”

Cooper’s mate Will Ryan already plays for the Magpies and mentioned his name to coaching staff who then got in touch. 

“It’s pretty exciting to be going up there to play, but it’s going to be a lot different too I think,” he said. 

“I think the competition might be about the same as RFL here, but maybe a bit more intense and I think I’ll have to be pretty fit.”

The Canberra league has just the six teams, meaning Cooper will be going head-to-head with Lehman’s Tigers during the season. 

The Tigers have also signed Leeton-Whitton’s Toby Conroy and Neil Irwin back to the club after they were also part of the 2017 premiership-winning side. 

The pair were among several who were travelling from Canberra each week to play for the Crows. 

“I know Toby is definitely playing back there and I’m pretty sure Neil is too,” Lehman said. 

“It will be good to have a couple of friendly faces there already. 

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Both Cooper and Lehman were given pre-season schedules from their respective clubs and have been working on maintaining their fitness here in Leeton before making the move to Canberra shortly. 

RELATED

While there have been a number of departures and retirements since last year’s premiership, the pair were confident the club would still be sitting at the top of the ladder this season. 

“It was such a great feeling to win that premiership,” Cooper said. 

For Lehman it was a relief following the narrow loss to the Wagga Tigers in te 2016 grand final. 

“It was unreal … especially after being so close, but so far the year before,” he said.

Leeton-Whitton will start their premiership defence in 2018 with a grand final rematch against Collingullie-Glenfield Park in round one.