GROUP 4 men’s under 23 and ladies league tag sides are prepared for the testing Greater Northern trials at Scone this Saturday.
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Both teams will have new coaching staffs with Damien Allen and Dustin Munn in charge of the league tag side while Paul Hyson and Nathan Blacklock have been running training sessions for the under 23 side.
Hyson, who coached Kootingal last year, and former St George star Blacklock have had two training sessions so far, the second of which was at Kootingal Oval last Saturday morning.
“We’ll have one more run,” Hyson said after the 90-minute session.
“We only have 40 players under 23 registered to choose from but they are having a go and giving it a crack.”
He said just about all the Group 4 clubs are represented and appreciative of Nathan Blacklock’s input as well.
Blacklock’s tips to the young players during a run through of plays was smart and insightful. Little things like retreating to the defensive line sideways so they could watch the ball carrier and where the dummy half was aiming the next play.
It’s Blacklock’s first time working with Group 4, although he’s also helping Tommy Learoyd-Lahrs with the North Tamworth Bears junior side.
“He brings a lot of experience,” Hyson said.
“Got a good side, a bit of a mix and we do have a couple of fair sized boys in the front row too.”
Blacklock is enjoying the coaching stint and ran as a fullback in the most recent session.
“It’s good to get back into it,” he said.
“They’ve all got something special about them.”
He said they all have their own way of playing and wants to enhance that by helping them improve and enhance their own styles and game play.
Allan is in charge of the Group 4 ladies league tag side after acting as their manager last year.
“We’ve got a young squad this year, about six of last year’s squad are back,” he said.
“Some young girls mixed in with some older heads. We didn’t have the whole of Group 4 at the trial either, just the Tamworth clubs.”
He said the side has had a couple of training sessions. They picked a squad of 25 to start with but have cut that back to 19.
He said the team will train for a final time on Thursday and believes the likes of Amy Baraclough, Jess Brown, Aimee Diebold and Kimberley Resch will head the side with their experience and talent.
He is also coaching the Kootingal side in the 11-team Group 4 competition and excited about their prospects too.
“We’ve got a good little squad,” he said. “Things are coming along nicely.”
GROUP 4 LADIES LEAGUE TAG TEAM: Aimee Diebold, Jessica Baker, Sophie Barr, Kendall Horne, Abi Dow, Jessica Blair (Kootingal), Jacqui Jones, Khobi Devine (Gunnedah), Hope Martin, Brianna Trickett, Jamie Blacker (Dungowan), Kimberley Resch, Amy Baraclough, Jess Brown, Bronte Harris (North Tamworth), Dayna Porter, Anna Smith (Werris Creek), Cali-Jean Jordan. Coaches: Damien Allan and Dustin Munn.
GROUP 4 UNDER 23 SQUAD: Dylan Lake (Gunnedah), Jake Simpson, Sam Molyneux, Mitch Doring (Kootingal), Mitch Sheridan, Blake Cameron, Ryan Ingram, Brady Barwick, Jack Patterson (North Tamworth), Jack Rumsby (Narrabri), Ryley Taylor, Jemmarley Jerrard (Bendemeer), Scott Berry (Werris Creek), Harrison Buhler, Fraser Evans, Lochie Collins, Ethan Collins (Dungowan), Zack Leonard (Werris Creek), Matt Gillham (Boggabri), Hayden Smith (Gunnedah), Anthony Reid (South West Robins). Coaches: Paul Hyson and Nathan Blacklock.
