PRIDE and passion – that is what Western Rams under 21s coach Kurt Hancock wants to see from his players in this Saturday’s match against Federation of Italia Rugby League Australia.
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The match is one of four representative fixtures that will be contested at Carrington Park and despite league competitions throughout the Central West concluding around a month ago, Hancock says his men are ready.
“The guys trained really well on Sunday. I was not sure what I would get given the season is done and dusted, I thought they may find it hard to get up,” Hancock said.
“But they won’t have any problems getting up for this, all the guys are pretty tight from when they played a few games earlier this season.
“We are really hungry. We had a tough draw at the start of the year against the Cabramatta and St George under 20s.
“Yeah, they’ve got a bit of a point to prove because we got beaten by big margins in those games.”
Hancock sees the under 21s as the future of Western Division and believes they will play a key role in the opens team’s bid to return to the top tier of the annual Senior Country Championships competition.
“These guys, they are building into the sort of rep players that you will want to see in your top rep side in the future,” Hancock said.
“We want to put that pride into the jersey every time they pull it on. If you have that passion and pride, everyone is going to put their hand up to play the rep stuff.”
Hancock’s side for Saturday’s game is a strong one with Forbes five-eighth Mitch Burke expected to have a big impact alongside his halves partner Ryan Griffin (Orange CYMS).
Having played out of position in the halves for the Rams earlier this season, hooker Hudson White (St Pat’s) and second rower Zac Adams (Mudgee) will return to their regular roles and strengthen the forward pack.
St Pat’s players Nick Millar, Mitch Squires and Jack Mackey have also been named in the squad.
“Mitch Burke, he is going to be a big addition. He is a class act and I think he is going to make a massive difference,” Hancock said.
“We have got some very good outside backs and Mitch – and Ryan as well – will help to bring them into it.
“I think our forwards are pretty good too, you’ve got a lot of guys there who have been playing first grade now for a couple of seasons.
“The Italians are a bit of an unknown for our guys. Originally they had a couple of under 20s players from a few Sydney clubs, but I think they are now trialling with the firsts.”
The match will kick off at 2pm at Carrington Park.
WESTERN 21s: 1 Nathan Orr (Mudgee Dragons), 2 Kyle Alexander (Gulgong Terriers), 3 Jerome Harrison (Orange CYMS), 4 Camden Sutton (Mudgee Dragons), 5 Matt Ranse (Blackheath Blackcats), 6 Mitch Burke (Forbes Magpies), 7 Ryan Griffin (Orange CYMS), 8 Mitch Case (Lithgow Workies), 9 Hudson White (Bathurst St Pat’s), 10 Ryan Richardson (Narromine Jets), 11 Zac Adams (Mudgee Dragons), 12 Nick Millar (Bathurst St Pat’s), 13 Ethan McKellar (Parkes Spacemen); Bench: 14 Mitch Squires (Dunedoo Swans/Bathurst St Pat’s), 15 Thomas Clow (Dubbo Westside), 16 Ryan Jervis (Blackheath Blackcats), 17 Travis Brazier (Collarenebri Bulldogs), 18 Jack Mackey (Bathurst St Pat’s) 19 Daniel Pracey (Gilgandra Panthers).