The Newcastle Knights may have the bye in the NRL this weekend, but the Club still has a number of players running around in representative fixtures.
Seven players in total have been selected to play for Australia, Samoa, Fiji and Country in the annual Representative Round.
Fullback Darius Boyd has retained his position on the wing in the Australian side for the World Champions Trans-Tasman Test match-up against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts will join forces in the halves for Country, while they'll be joined by Beau Scott who has been named captain and winger James McManus to take on rivals City at Apex Oval in Dubbo on Sunday.
Club legend Danny Buderus will also be involved with Country as an assistant coach to head mentor Trent Barrett.
On the international stage, forwards Korbin Sims and David Fa'alogo will put their club allegiances aside when they represent Fiji and Samoa respectively in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League International at Penrith's Sportingbet Stadium on Saturday.
Coach Wayne Bennett is thrilled to have so many players selected in representative teams, admitting the timing of the bye is perfect.
"We'll be affected in all those areas, so we’ve just taken the whole week off and see what we’ve got next Monday week when we all get back together again," Bennett says.
Asked if Mullen's strong performance against the Bulldogs on Saturday night enhanced his NSW Origin chances, Bennett was forthright in his response.
"Of course it will," he enthuses.
"He is a much more mature player and he is a real linchpin in our team.
"He is only in his third game back and two of them he has been outstanding and one of them he was good.”
Both the NSW and Queensland Under 20s Origin teams will be announced tomorrow with the Club's undefeated NYC team set to have a number of players selected.
Newcastle Knights rep players
Australia: Darius Boyd
Country: Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, James McManus, Beau Scott
Fiji: Korbin Sims
Samoa: David Fa'alogo
