And it has kept the mates together ever since – from the Maitland Rams junior ranks to Newcastle representative sides.

Now the dynamic duo are embarking on a new adventure with Forbes and Magann travelling to Darwin next month as part of the NSW under-13 program for the Australian Championships.

Forbes will be part of the NSW Blues, or 2nd XI, while Magann will line up in the top team.

Magann, cousins with Rams first grade brothers Matt and Pat, expects the competition to be “tough” in the Top End after getting a taste of national level at last year’s School Sport Australia tournament.

But both of them have been busily preparing for the step up in class with weekly sessions alongside the Rams senior squad.

“It has helped make us stronger players, both physically and passing,” Magann said

Forbes chimed in as well: “You have to think a lot quicker.”

The year 7 students at Maitland Grossmann High School have also been under the regular tutelage of Judy Lang in Newcastle, which has assisted with an increase in skill level as well.

Forbes, a Morpeth midfielder, and Magann, a defender from East Maitland, were selected in the state age squad after helping Newcastle take out the under-13 division one title undefeated at the NSW Championships in Taree last month.

In the meantime, they will re-join the Rams under-13 side this weekend before a two-day training camp in Sydney next weekend.

The nationals, to run in conjunction with the men’s Australian Hockey League featuring former Ram and current Kookaburra Simon Orchard, starts September 25.