Leuluai delight at his All Star selection but he cannot wait for next year (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Leuluai delight at his All Star selection but he cannot wait for next year

12:10pm Thursday 29th September 2011 in Vikings news

VIKINGS second rower Macgraff Leuluai has expressed his surprise at being named the only Widnes player in the 2011 Co-operative Championship's All Star team.

The industrious 21-year-old packman has enjoyed a good first season at the Stobart Stadium since joining from Leigh Centurions.

It is those performances that earned the son of former Kiwi test centre James Leuluai a Super League contract.

Currently enjoying his off-season back in New Zealand, Leuluai said: “To be honest, I'm surprised but having said that, I'm really happy!"

"To be selected in any representative team is always an honour and I'm pleased to have been chosen.

“Picking up individual awards is nice, but a heap of the credit must also go to Denis Betts and Mick Cassidy, who have worked extremely hard with us as a team and on an individual basis over the past year and personally, I reckon I've certainly improved as a player.”

Vikings early end to the season has allowed Leuluai time to spend time away from Widnes - and will hopefully return refreshed for the massive challenge ahead in the top flight.

He admits that he is excited about the prospect of getting stuck into the full time environment.

“Don't get me wrong, it's great to see my family and friends back home, but come November 1, I'll be expected back at the club in a fit and healthy state and there's things I'm doing over here to make sure that happens,” he said.

“Denis is still putting his squad of players together for next year but there's already a good few players to choose from in the pack and I realise that many of these could be picked ahead of me.

“Competition for places is always a good thing though and gets the best out of players and makes them push themselves even harder and I'm definitely up for the challenge ahead.”

Co-operative Championship All Star team: Misi Taulapapa (Sheffield); Bryn Powell (Featherstone), Liam Harrison (Barrow), Mick Nanyn (Leigh), Tommy Saxton, Andy Kain (Both Featherstone), Jamie Ellis, Chris Hill (Both Leigh), Sean Penkywicz (Halifax), Stuart Dickens (Featherstone), MacGraff Leuluai (Widnes), Dane Manning, Ash Lindsay (Both Batley)