YORK youngster Steve Perks is getting ready to mix it with some of the best amateur rugby league players Down Under.

The 19-year-old New Earswick All Blacks player will be joining Western Australia club Fremantle Roosters in the latest collaboration between the two sides.

The move is the second in a year featuring All Blacks players after Mark Tipping flew to the Aussie club in February last year.

Perks said: "I just wanted a change from what I'm doing now and I think it will be a great opportunity.

"I'm going over for a year and if they want to keep me there for longer that might be a possibility depending on funding and that sort of thing.

"It's a faster game and a better standard and I think it would be better for me to get out there and have a go.

"Eventually, I would definitely love to go professional. I'm still only young so I have got a chance and hopefully this will help that.

"It's going to be brilliant. It's going to be a great experience. Even if the rugby doesn't work out, just going over there will be an absolutely superb experience."

The Roosters have built their side up in time for the start of the 2004 season with additions to the coaching staff bolstering the arrival of both Perks and former Penrith Panthers and Perth Western Reds player Tim Horan.

A formal link has now been forged between the All Blacks and official Penrith Panthers feeder club Fremantle, and it is hoped that the first Australian player going the other way will arrive in York in the near future.

The Roosters are also hoping to see Tipping return to the southern hemisphere sooner rather than later with more English players expected after placing adverts in two rugby league trade papers.

Perks, who will celebrate his 20th birthday two weeks after flying out, has played for the Doncaster Dragons Academy and York Ironsides in the York International 9s and would love to get a chance to play in Western Australia's premier competition, the Swan Brewery Cup.

The first few weeks will be spent at an aunt and uncle of his girlfriend, who is joining him for the year out, and they will then look at renting a house.

But he admits he is expecting to miss life at All Blacks.

"I will probably miss all my mates at New Earswick because they have taught me everything," he said.

New Earswick's Under-16s marched in to te semi-finals of the National Cup with a thrilling extra time victory over Wibsey Juniors.

The young All Blacks won 36-23 to book a trip to Blackbrook on Sunday.

Injuries and unavailability meant New Earswick were below strength and soon found themselves 12-6 down, Liam Gargan scoring a try, and trailed 18-16 at the interval.

However, when Steven Mackley went in for his second try, converted by Danny Allen, All Blacks led, only for Wibsey to level at 22-22 and go ahead in extra time with a drop kick.

But All Blacks stormed home with tries by Andy McKellor, Jack Goodaker and Ross Divorty, Allen finishing with six goals and Gargan one.

Updated: 09:14 Thursday, February 19, 2004