THEY won't be heading to Wollongong this weekend as planned, but Central West Blue Bulls coaches Mick Gray and Steve Hamson are still confident of putting together a squad which can win a second consecutive NSW Country Championship.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Blue Bulls pulled out of a trial series against Illawarra, Central Coast and Balmain scheduled for this weekend thanks to, as Central West Rugby Union CEO Peter Veenstra said, "being pretty light on in the backs", but Gray and Hamson still named their provisional squad yesterday.
"There was just too much unavailability to justify taking a squad down there," Gray said.
"It's not ideal and there is a book of excuses as to why we haven't seen the numbers, but that reflects in the 20s as well.
"We're still confident of putting together a squad to be very competitive.
"Other guys will have the chance to work their way in."
In the biggest shock, former Orange City and NSW Country Cockatoo Josh Tremain is the only player named from defending premiers Dubbo Kangaroos.
The fact so many players have left the club is one reason, but after dominating the competition in 2014, new coach Vince Gordon would have been expecting some more of his players to be in the extended team.
Not surprisingly after Orange Emus and Orange City finished second and third respectively in the 2014 Blowes Clothing Cup, players from the colour city dominate the squad.
The Lions boast 10 representatives, while Emus have seven including bulldozing prop Nas Havealeta.
Bathurst Bulldogs has five representatives, Parkes and Narromine each have three while Mudgee has two and Forbes just boast one in Jack Hammond.
"We knew the nucleus was going to come from Emus, City and Bulldogs after Dubbo lost several players," Gray said.
"We're particularly strong in the front row with Chris Plunkett, Grant Lowe, Chris Senior, Josh Tremain, Nas (Havealeta), Darcy Garlick, David Birch and the two Quigleys (George and Richie) so I think there will be some tears before bedtime picking who plays there, which is a good problem."
Gray said he and Hamson would closely follow the progress of the named players, along with several others playing in the competition in a bid to ensure Central West sends its strongest possible squad to compete for the Caldwell Cup.
CENTRAL WEST BLUE BULLS: Cameron Cole, Sam Coote, Jake Davis, Sam Dwyer, Darcy Garlick, Mesui Lemoto, Tom Nell, Chris Scoins, Chris Senior, Duncan Young (Orange City Lions), Tom Green, Nas Havealeta, Carter Hirini, Keith Howarth, Nick Hughes-Clapp, Jack Marchinton, Adam Perri (Orange Emus), Isaac Breen, Peter Fitzsimmons, Tom Hollis, Chris Plunkett, Phil Tonkin (Bathurst Bulldogs), David Birch, Brad James (Mudgee Wombats), Lachie McCutcheon, George Quigley, Richie Quigley (Narromine Gorillas), Grant Lowe, Ben Ryan, Dan Ryan (Parkes Boars), Josh Tremain (Dubbo Kangaroos), Jack Hammond (Forbes Platypi)
CENTRAL WEST COLTS: Jayden Norrish, Jake Roberts (Orange Emus), Marcus Burrell, George Storrier, Charlie McIntosh, Kadison Campion (CSU Bathurst), Riley Byrne, Iszac Oliver, Caleb Hewitt, Simon Oliver, James Peters (Parkes Boars), Dylan Carter, Joel Harper, Scott Howe, Adam Plummer, Adam Miles, Jock Grant, Travis Gibson (Bathurst Bulldogs), Joe Burgess (Orange City Lions), Nathan Orr, Angus Dunn (Mudgee Wombats), Josh Lees, Ben Vance, Rod McTaggart (unknown)
