REGAN McNicol doesn’t care if he is in the starting side or off the bench – he just wants to travel to Cairns to play for Darling Downs in the Queensland Secondary School Rugby League Championships.

Second-rower McNicol and prop Lee Lousick are the two Warwick State High School students in the regional open team for the May 18-22 championships.

It will be McNicol’s second time in Darling Downs colours after he represented at under-15 level.

Lousick has played at state championship level with the South West Mustangs.

“We have a fairly good side with plenty of size for the Cairns championships,” Lousick said.

The reality is, the better Darling Downs performs, the greater the chance of players from the team gaining state selection.

Both like the defensive side of the game but are also keen to run the ball. The pair are keen to push for state selection.

Like Lousick, McNicol is impressed with the quality of the Darling Downs team.

“I just want to play, it doesn’t matter whether or not I am in the starting side,” he said.

“Lee has plenty of size and will be one of our leading forwards.”

McNicol first played rugby league at the age of five for the Collegians Dragons and hasn’t missed a season since.

He is the fourth of four footy brothers. Brendan, Hayden and Tyson have all played A-grade for the Warwick Cowboys and the youngest of the foursome can’t wait to also play A-grade for the Cowboys. “Oh yeah, I can play A-grade,” he said.

McNicol is in his first season of under-18 football.

He played one under-18 game last season and scored a try against Dalby.

Lousick came through the ranks at Eastern Suburbs and debuted for Wattles in under-18 footy last season.

The Darling Downs team will hold its second training run at St Mary’s in Toowoomba today.