A little known New Zealand youngster who started playing rugby league only five years ago is on standby for some of the NRL's biggest names after being named on an extended Gold Coast Titans.
Prop Bodene Thompson, 20, is in line for his NRL debut after being included on a six-man interchange for the Titans' daunting trip to Newcastle on Sunday.
He had not played the sport until he moved over from New Zealand and unwittingly ended up at famous Gold Coast rugby league nursery Keebra Park High, which has groomed the likes of Kiwi captain Benji Marshall.
Thompson is expected to get the nod from coach John Cartwright only if members of the Titans' representative contingent fail to back up on the weekend.
Forward Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi will run out for Australia against New Zealand at Brisbane on Friday night.
