Milne motors into first grade

He?s one of the club?s genuine speedsters, but even Canberra Raiders winger David Milne can?t believe his blistering rise into the National Rugby League.

Milne has been named in the Raiders starting team for this Sunday?s match against the Penrith Panthers at Canberra Stadium.

Centre Adam Mogg returns from a calf injury in another boost to the Raiders backline, while Jason Williams at prop is the only other change to the Raiders? starting 13.

Milne, 19, received a late call-up from Raiders coach Matt Elliott last Friday, asking him to make his NRL debut against the Cowboys the following night.

He didn?t even get a chance to train with the Raiders, but he made a good contribution off the bench in Canberra?s 23-22 victory.

?[Matt Elliott] rang me on Friday and I didn?t believe it was him at first,? Milne said. ?It took about five minutes before I realised I was in the team. It was awesome.

?First grade is a lot quicker than I thought it would be. I couldn?t believe the pace of the game.?

Milne?s progression through the ranks of rugby league has almost been as fast. Milne only took up league when he was 15, but made an immediate impact.

He has twice represented NSW U19s ? in 2004 and 05 - and was part of the Junior Kangaroos touring squad last year.

?I never even thought about playing professional rugby league, then I got a call one day from the Raiders who asked me to come down here and have a run.?

Until this week, Milne had been working full-time and training in the evenings. He is contracted to the Raiders until the end of 2008.

?We?re really impressed with David and we think he?s going to be a big part of our future,? Elliott said.

Meanwhile, Williams has been brought into the starting pack to give the Raiders more impact.

?We haven?t been able to give Jason enough time off the bench,? Elliott said. ?That?s got nothing to do with his ability, it?s to do with the balance of the team at certain times.

?In the last few weeks we?ve been losing players off our bench to injuries, and that doesn?t really suit being able to use Jason. So we?re looking to get some impact out of him right from the beginning of the game.?

1. CLINTON SCHIFCOFSKE 2. MATT GAFA 3. DAVID HOWELL 4. ADAM MOGG 5. DAVID MILNE 6. JASON SMITH 7. LINCOLN WITHERS 8. JASON WILLIAMS 9. SIMON WOOLFORD 10. TROY THOMPSON 11. KRIS KAHLER 12. IAN HINDMARSH 13. JASON CROKER

INTERCHANGE 14. ALAN TONGUE 15. ANDREW LOMU 16. MICHAEL HODGSON 17. MICHAEL ROBERTSON 18. JOSH MILLER