Dubbo Roos No.8 Dean Matthews won’t be holding back at training this weekend with places in the New South Wales Country Cockatoos squad on offer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Matthews will miss the round two Blowes Menswear clash today when the Roos host Orange Emus, instead he will be at Hurlstone Ag College for two days of intense training and trials.
At the end of the weekend Country selectors will announce a 26-man squad for this season’s Australian Cup Series.
The Cockatoos’ draw will see them start with a game against ACT in Canberra on May 1 as a curtain-raiser to the Brumbies Super 14 match.
The rest of their program has games against NSW Sub Districts (at the Sydney Football Stadium on May 14); versus Melbourne in Newcastle May 22; versus Darwin and then Queensland Country at the Gold Coast on May 28-29.
Despite some strong performances for the Central West Blue Bulls in the recent Caldwell Cup competition, Matthews was overlooked for the training camp, but received a call up.
It was one call that he was pleased to receive.
“I came off the bench against the ACT in my only game for Country Cockatoos, but I would obviously like to get another crack,” he said this week.
“It’s a great atmosphere in the Cockatoos squad, with some really good blokes who love their rugby.
“As you would expect at that level it’s a different standard of football and it certainly takes you to a new level in your fitness and skills.
“Your fitness is particularly important as the game is much faster and you soon get found out if you’re lacking in any area.”
Central West gained a good representation for the Country training camp, with Charlie Croucher, Luke Harding, Lachie McCutcheon, Simon Murphy, Alex McKendry, Chris Plunkett and Matt Waterford included, along with Alex Burnheim from Western Plains.
With several games for Central West, rep and club, training this season has been full-on for Matthews.
He had a strong game at No.8 for the Roos in their first club round win over Parkes last weekend and is confident the club will be one of the leading sides in the Blowes Menswear Cup in 2010.
“I think you will find the Roos being very fit this year and that will make a lot of difference,” he said.
“Rod Fardell has been working with our coaching staff during the lead-up to the season opener and we showed against Parkes that we can finish our games strong.
“We started well, built up a winning lead at half-time and kept them off the score board. That was pretty good.”
