Group 19's Country Championships campaign was a tough one.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The under-14 and under-15 teams couldn't manage to post a win, though they came close.
The under-15 side were beaten first up by Group 21 38-24.
"Group 21, we versed them first, they had a big forward pack as we expected," Group 19 under-15 captain Billy Youman said.
"They were pretty tough but we were beating them at half-time and we got one sent off and they ended up beating us by 14.
"They had a few good forwards and they just beat us in the pack."
Then against Group 1, the Group 19 team was beaten 40-10.
"They just targeted our centres and halves and scored a few tries off that; a few good second rowers just hitting holes," Billy said.
Despite the losses, it wasn't all doom and gloom.
Billy was labelled a "dead set standout" on the day with three tries and three goals in the two matches.
"I was happy with the way I played and happy with the way the team went," he said.
"A bit disappointed in the last game, we let the score go out that far."
When it comes to representative duties, Group 19 is faced with more challenges than other areas.
The widespread area where the players are picked from means there is little opportunity for training together, bonding and development.
"When you look at other team sheets, they all live close together," Billy said.
"Group 1 had a lot of Ballina boys so they obviously train together all the time compared to us.
"We are a fair way apart.
"Armidale to Inverell is a couple of hours and that is just for training, it is just spread out a bit more."
Group 19 under-14 coach Peter Presnell echoed Billy's thoughts after his team "showed a lot of heart" but were beaten by Group 21 in their opening match 42-4 and then again by Maitland 64-4.
"We are a mile behind the eight-ball," he said.
"In their [other Groups'] development, they are streaks ahead of us.
"You have got the likes of Maitland, Newcastle and Central Coast and that they have linked with an NRL club and we have only just started.
"They have been linked with [NRL clubs for] god knows how many years.
"It is an eye-opener."
Although Presnell's team suffered heavy defeats, he was impressed with the character they showed after losing a host of players in crucial positions in the opening match.
"I lost three boys in the first game to concussion. Two of them had a head clash. Luke Steward got taken to hospital and Josh Bell ended up with a broken nose," he said.
"Inverell's Deon Oakes got hit with a shoulder and he was cleared to play and got another knock in the second game and ended up in hospital that night.
"My little boys, Mitch Duddy, Leith Bearman and Darcy Wood showed a lot of courage.
"That is all I can ask from them.
"There were some boys down there playing for Central Coast as big as me.
"You can't expect little Mitch Duddy and Leith Bearman, my two little hookers, to tackle them all day.
"They did their Group very proud, I am very proud of them."
Presnell also thanked the Group 19 committee for helping them get to the Championships.
"Thanks to Group 19, the management and committee, the way it was run; they organised buses for us to pick us up, they organised dinner," he said.
"I couldn't be any more grateful for Group 19 for the way they have been."