Armidale’s Rugby League Park will be a hive of activity on Saturday when the region’s best players make the trek to compete in the Greater Northern Championships.
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Groups 19, 4 and 21 have selected their best senior men’s and women’s league tag players to compete in the day’s matches, which will also act as a selection trial for the Greater Northern team.
The format this year includes a trial for an under 23 men’s team, the first time Country Rugby League have introduced this division.
A massive 60 players this Saturday are eligible to be chosen in the newly introduced team.
"This is the first year we have moved to that structure so it will be an interesting situation for us,” Northern’s Regional Area Manager Scott Bone said.
"A lot of the players that have been picked for Group 4, 19 and 21, someone like James Ballinger from Inverell, are guys that are in that 19-23 age group and in some cases there are guys who have been playing first grade for a few years.
"From a regional point of view there are a lot of names through all the three teams that have come through our Academy programs as younger players.
"It will be an interesting situation to see what standard we have.
"[I am] expecting that we can come up with a strong side that will take on the Central Coast in round one of the Championships.”
Women’s league tag players will also go head-to-head for spots in the regional team.
It is the third year the region has held the tournament for women but only the second year the Tigers will select a team.
Last year’s inaugural side were high achievers, making the semifinals.
"The side did well making the semifinals and just getting beaten on the bell by the Central Coast who went on to lose in the final as well,” Bone said.
"It looks promising with the squads that each Group have picked that we will come up with a strong side.”