The offer is a huge opportunity for the talented teenagers who have both won major accolades in the Victory League and flew to New South Wales on Monday.

Thannhauser, 18, was the state competition’s rising star last season and Towns, 19, won this year’s player of the season.

The pair said Rangers assistant coach Darren Cook had helped line up the trial with the Mariners where former Riverside Olympic player Tony Walmsley has been head coach since March.

They had their first training session with the Mariners youth team in Gosford on Tuesday, have another lined up on Wednesday and are due to fly home on Thursday.

Towns said Rangers committee member Brendan Lichtendonk also helped line up the opportunity.

‘‘Central Coast were interested and invited us up,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s very exciting and nice that they want us here for a reason and if all goes to plan we could stay a bit longer.

‘‘Just a couple of weeks ago I wouldn’t have thought anything like this could happen. It’s been a big shock to see it happen all of a sudden.

‘‘It’s another step up and always good to test yourself against better players and teams and we’re happy with how it’s going.

‘‘My ultimate dream would be playing in England but that’s just a dream and it will take a lot of small steps to get there.

‘‘Maybe we’ll get another invitation, we’ll wait and see. If not, we’re happy playing in the Victory League.’’

Ethiopian-born Towns and South Australian Thannhauser both moved to Launceston as youngsters, attended Launceston Christian School and began playing soccer with Northern Rangers.

‘‘It’s awesome to be given this opportunity and hopefully something good will come of it,’’ Thannhauser said.

‘‘It’s a great experience training with the youth team.

‘‘It would be awesome to come and play for them and then try and work our way up through the team towards the A-League.’’