RUGBY UNION
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A TRIO of Dubbo Kangaroos players will wear the gold jersey of NSW Country this season after the coach Shannon Fraser announced his Cockatoos squad yesterday.
Hooker Peter Nau will be joined by centre Filisione Pauta and fullback Scott Burgess as the side takes part in its traditional four-match program in May before undertaking a tour to the west coast of the United States later in the year.
Fellow Central West players Lachie McCutcheon (Narromine), Mahe Fangupo (Parkes), Dan Ryan (Parkes), Hayden Tidswell (Bathurst Bulldogs), Chris Plunkett (Bathurst Bulldogs), Amoni Vea (Parkes), Tom Joseph and Phil Tonkin (Bathurst Bulldogs)
Cockatoos coach Shannon Fraser said he was excited at the prospect of working with the entire squad but outlined how impressed he was with Nau, Pauta and Burgess at last week's Country Championships in Mudgee.
"Central West won the Caldwell Cup so they were always going to figure heavily in the squad we picked," Fraser said, in reference to the 11 Blue Bulls players to make the 34-man squad.
"Scott Burgess really impressed us with his work rate and his ability to finish off movements and get involved, plus his goalkicking was quite exceptional as well," Fraser said.
"Filisione was the standout player of the competition with his impact in the centres. Every time he got the ball he seemed to take Central West over the advantage line and was able to beat defenders.
"And Peter Nau is just a very reliable player who is never far from the breakdown, is accurate in the set piece and his efforts over both days of the carnival were equally as good as each other."
Another player to catch Fraser's eye was McCutcheon, who he worked with in the NSW under-19s system a few years back.
"I've had a lot to do with Lachie over the years and watched him during his time with Sydney Uni," Fraser said.
"He's exactly the kind of player you want in your back five. He's big and tough and durable, good in the set piece and able to just keep rolling through his work.
"Those Central West players have all shown they can adapt to being part of representative squads so I don't expect too much different when we bring this squad together."
The Cockatoos will have a camp early next month at Hurlstone Agricultural High School in Sydney, where a cut will be made prior to four consecutive weekends of football during May.
"There will be a lot of competition for spots which I think is good."
o NSW COUNTRY COCKATOOS SQUAD
Andrew Barrett (Illawarra), Scott Burgess (Central West), Ben Damen (Far North Coast), Dylan Evans (Newcastle Hunter), Auvasa Faleallii (Newcastle Hunter), Mahe Fangupo (Central West), AJ Gilbert (Far North Coast), Ben Greentree (Illawarra), Mitch Hardy (Illawarra), Gavin Holder (Illawarra), Andre Itula (Illawarra), Ryan Jackson (Central North), Tom Joseph (Central West), Steve Lamont (Newcastle Hunter), Adam McCormack (Mid North Coast), Lachie McCutcheon (Central West), Cal McDonald (Newcastle Hunter), Mark Minter (Illawarra), Peter Nau (Central West), Donovan Nepia (Illawarra), Filisone Pauta (Central West), Chris Plunkett (Central West), Lee Russell (Illawarra), Dan Ryan (Central West), Bradd Sheridan (Central Coast), Eli Sinoti (Illawarra), James Smith (Illawarra), Josh Stewart (Central North), Paul Tuala (Illawarra), Hayden Tidswell (Central West), Sione Toki (Central Coast), Phil Tonkin (Central West), Amoni Vea (Central West), Mark Wade (Newcastle Hunter)