Netball
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RISING Griffith netball starlet Renae Larkin has been honoured with the captaincy of the Riverina Football League's under 17 representative side for Saturday's inter-league clashes in Wangaratta.
It is an exceptional achievement by the energetic Swans centre made more special by the fact she has been named skipper as a bottom-aged 15-year-old.
Larkin was even wanted at one stage by the RFL's senior rep side for their assignment on Saturday but her under 17s coach won the war for her services in Tocimwol this weekend.
"She was as surprised and stoked as anyone," said mum Lyn, who has also coached Renae in the Griffith rep program.
"But she's got two sisters who have played rep so she's been hanging out to play as soon as she could at 12.
"She just loves netball. She's a tough little cookie, she went to the first week of (RFL rep) trials with blisters on her feet and sore hamstrings and didn't let on."
Larkin bounces between the Griffith Swans' A grade and A reserves side and is a key fixture of the city's under 15 representative team.
Backing up from Saturday's RFL round-robin rep games against the Picola League and the Hume League, she will head to the regional carnival in Wagga on Sunday for another full day of on-court action.
"It's very deserving - she's a great player," Swans coach Sally Chambers said.
"It always makes a difference having her on the court.
"As she matures she'll become a very, very good netballer if she goes on with it.
"As a 15-year-old to captain that side, it's a great privilege."
Larkin is the only Griffith Swans player named in either of the RFL representative squads this year.