Jack dons the green and gold

ALL SMILES: Emmaus College student Jack Rycen.

AT just 15, Jack Rycen is the perfect role model for any budding NRL star.

Rycen will be back at school next week after earning selection in the Australian secondary schools' rugby league 15 years merit team.

The year 10 Emmaus College student helped lead the Queensland Maroons to victory at last week's national titles in Adelaide where he was also named the team's most valuable player.

Rycen, who is contracted to the Brisbane Broncos, showed the match-winning qualities of his idol Dallas Johnson by playing every minute of Queensland's campaign.

The Queensland Maroons, which also included St Brendan's College pair Angus Dorante and Brady Williams, finished unbeaten at the championships.

They posted an imposing 136 points in their four wins and conceded just 40 on their way to beating NSW Combined Catholic Colleges 36-14 in the national final.

Rycen, who had NRL clubs knocking on his door before signing with the Broncos last year, said he was proud to don an Australian jersey and was “shocked” when he was named Queensland's best player after team-mate, Palm Beach Currumbin's Sam Harrold, was crowned player of the carnival.

While an NRL career is on the horizon for Rycen, the gifted forward is focused on more important things.

“Schoolwork's coming first right now,” said Rycen, who is just as mad about science as he is the Broncos.

“Footy's important but it's not as important as keeping good grades up at school.”

Rycen's goals next year are to make the Central Comets and Queensland under-16 teams.

“Next year I just want to get into that Comets team and try to make that Queensland team,” he said.