THEY’RE best mates who grew up together, played junior league together, and now, Tyler Cornish and Jake Lewis are hoping to take on the NRL together.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two 19-year-old Goulburn boys are part of the Sydney Rooster’s under-20s Holden Cup side and both have been instrumental in the side’s top four fortunes this year.
Cornish is the squad’s established five-eight, while Lewis is a first year prop for the team that has won three of it’s first five games.
“It’s crazy how it’s happened,” Cornish told the Post. “I never thought I’d be playing with him [Lewis] at the Roosters.
“I mean we’ve been through all of high school together and to be playing in the same under-20s team in Sydney it’s just awesome.”
The former Mulwaree High students live in a shared house in Sydney’s eastern Randwick along with English recruit Curtis Naughton.
Cornish, who is the Canberra Raider’s Mitch Cornish’s younger brother, is studying a TAFE course in sports management while Lewis is finishing a building apprenticeship.
For Lewis, it was only a year ago that he was playing for the Goulburn Workers Bulldogs.
He landed his position at the Roosters after impressing selectors at a trial last October organised by Bulldogs stalwart James Aubusson.
“It’s a lot quicker,” Lewis said.
“But I think playing for the Bulldogs has really helped me because I was playing against men, so I have that experience. But everyone is definitely a lot fitter up here.”
Cornish on the other hand, relocated to Sydney at the end of 2012 after previously rising through the Raiders junior ranks.
He now feels he is finally establishing himself within the team. “I know what’s expected, my knowledge of the game has improved. I’m more composed and it’s just easier being out there,” he said.
“I just feel like more of a leader in the team.”
Both young men have come a long way from when the pair were playing with the Goulburn Junior Stockmen.
Lewis now aims to establish himself within the youth team and to finish 2014 in a good spot.
Cornish hopes his on-field performances and previous selection to the emerging blues side can help him break into the under-20s NSW representative squad.
As well, he hopes to earn a first grade debut in 2014.
“I think I’ve been training well enough because I’ve actually been called up to train with the first grade side,” Cornish said.