Ex-Noosa player picked for Origin
MOSES Mbye's father came to Australia from Africa in search of a better life.
Mbye was also searching for a better existence when he relocated to Sydney from Noosa after signing with the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2010.
Now in his second season with the Bulldogs, the 18-year-old is well on his way to achieving that.
Captain of Canterbury's Toyota Cup side this year in his first season in the national under-20 competition, the gifted five-eighth will make his Queensland debut in Saturday night's under-20 State of Origin clash against NSW at Penrith's Centrebet Stadium.
The former Noosa fullback - who made his first-grade debut for the Pirates at age 17 - learned only on Monday that he had made the Queensland side, albeit on the bench.
"I was over the moon. You don't understand it. It was massive," he said yesterday.
"When I moved down here, there was some really good coaching staff … it just took my game to another level. It's still progressing every day."
Mbye, who was once part of the Gold Coast Titans' development program, labelled his running game and leadership skills as his best attributes.
Being named Bulldogs skipper was one of his "proudest moments" and "an honour".
Canterbury under-20 coach Andy Patmore said Mbye's Origin selection was "just rewards" for his consistent performances this season.
Patmore said the club first spotted him as a 15-year-old, and he would travel to Sydney for Bulldogs camps.
"We knew he had a lot of potential and we're seeing that now," he said.
