From a bit of research I've done I want to clear up some stuff.
There are 7 players selected in the PONI squad from GPS this year:
Angus Grover (I)
Toby Brial (S)
Luca Cleverley (N)
Issac Fonua (K)
Tom Hartman (I)
Marshall Le Maitre (E)
Jay Mckenzie (S)
This was selected from the 2 Academy games v Queensland at the beginning of they year. These players above were not selected in the NSW schools side as they will have their own training camps with the rest of the NSW PONI players while the schools side are playing in Queensland.
For the likes of Makasini, Rodwell, Bassingswaite. Because of their tight affiliation with league clubs, they will particiapate in no further REP rugby.
A lot of the comments on this forum are based on the 'form' players not getting picked and the PONI players not 'progressing' as much throughout the year, since they already nationally recognised.
My rebuttal to this, is that there are 2 further announcements for the 'form' players to join the PONI squad. Right now the squad is at 25, and the 2 further announcements will make it 40. From this, the 40 best U18 players in the country will go to camp in canberra. On september 25 or 26th they play an internal trial against each other called 'Green vs Gold'. After this trial, the coaches select 25 boys to fly to NZ and send 15 boys home.
So for those PONI players not 'improving' in their game, the 'form' players will have an opportunity against them if they make the PONI squad, so they make the Aus u18s team.
I tried to make this as clear as possible but feel free to reply with any questions you may have.