The Griffith junior was named in the Country Firsts side on the wing after helping the Newcastle Rebels claim the Tier One Country Championship last Saturday.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for Charles, though, who has had to overcome injury after injury.

A broken leg, followed by a fractured sternum and broken hand saw the powerful outside back play just a third of the games over his first three seasons with Newcastle club Lakes United Seagulls.

An injury-free period culminated in a premiership with the Seagulls last year and now a Country jersey.

Charles puts all the success down to his support group which includes partner Sandra and kids Tyrone and Lilliana in Newcastle and his extended family and friends back home.

“My kids and my partner have played a big part. My partner’s been in my ear to better myself,” Charles said.

“With the injuries, I was lacking confidence but winning the grand final helped with that.

“Mum and Dad have been pretty supportive. They came to pretty much all my games [for the Rebels], it’s been good to have them there.”

Defending the premiership with Lakes United is next on the agenda for Charles, followed by the NSW Country Firsts tour of Samoa in September and October but his main goal is cracking the big time.

The 26-year-old already has a backer in Newcastle Rebels coach Todd Edwards who called for NRL clubs to put Charles on their radars back in May.

Whilst the call came as a shock to Charles, he admitted playing in the NRL was something he’d put a lot of thought in to.

“I think I’m in some of the best form I’ve ever been in,” Charles said.

“I’ve actually been talking to my partner and that was one of my big goals at the start of the year – to have a good year, have a crack at the NRL again and have a club look at me.”

Charles said an NRL club hadn’t come knocking yet but if his form continues, his claims would be hard to ignore.