FEW other junior rugby league clubs would boast a best-of-the-best team like this.
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From Knights legend Paul Harragon to Broncos forward Payne Haas, the number of Valentine-Eleebana juniors to have progressed to the elite level is incredible.
Combined, former Red Devils juniors have played more than 2300 NRL games, 60 State of Origins and 50 Tests. It's astonishing.
The talent to have emerged from the club will now be there for all to see with the release of a team of the half-century, selected as part of the Red Devils' 50th anniversary.
Club president Matthew Wallace said the side, which will be formally unveiled at a club event later today, was put together by a five-man panel of current and former officials.
To qualify for selection, a player had to have spent at least two years with the club.
This ruled out the likes of Willie Mason who played one season, but the line-up is full of players who had long NRL careers, including Brett Kimmorley, Luke Burt and Brett Finch.
"A lot of them have had very successful careers," Wallace said.
"It has brought back good memories for them, a lot of memories of the club where it all started."
Harragon said some of his "finest childhood memories and lifelong friendships" were from the Red Devils.
He acknowledged the likes of Reggie Squiries and Bruce Gill "who gave their time and passion" building the club from "humble beginnings" to help make it what it is today.
"I don't think anyone would have imagined how successful the club would become," Harragon said.
Valentine-Eleebana fields 28 sides from the under sixes to 15s. Wallace said playing numbers had to be capped because the club did not have enough access to fields.
A book, From Kids to Kangaroos, featuring a foreword by NRL boss Andrew Abdo has been compiled to mark the 50th anniversary.
Valentine-Eleebana Red Devils 50th anniversary team
1. Luke Burt, 2. Shane Mackley, 3. Joel Rawlins, 4. Steve Stone, 5. Anthony Quinn, 6. Brett Finch, 7, Brett Kimmorley, 8. Paul Harragon, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. Josh Perry, 11. Clint Newton, 12, Adam Muir, 13. Daniel Abraham, 14. Craig Kimmorley, 15. James Gannon, 16. Payne Haas, 17. Adam Brown, Coach: Rick Stone.
