Sunday’s training session at Caltex Park will be crucial to the Western Rams under-18s hopes at the upcoming Country Championship.
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Cameron Greenhalgh’s final squad was named on Monday, and the coach will push the 18 players through an intense three hour session this weekend before the first round of Championship matches on March 5.
“It’s been a big process and it’s been a long pre-season from back in October but we’re getting into it now,” Greenhalgh said.
“We’ve got to build the boys up and then hopefully do the region proud.”
The final squad was named after Saturday’s loss to Parramatta, a match in which Greenhalgh was disappointed in the way his side dropped off for a long period.
Fixing that attitude and ensuring all his players, particularly the ones coming up from under-16s, are mentally prepared will be a big focus this weekend.
The forwards, as Greenhalgh has said many times, poses as the biggest strength. Macquarie’s Luke Gale, Nyngan’s Clayton Couley and Darby Medlyn of Parkes form a powerful and hard-working back row but the backline is not quite the finished product yet.
“I’ve got the back row from last year and (props) Riley Cheshire and Joe Hobby are new to my style of coaching but I’ve been really happy with them,” Greenhalgh said.
“I’ve got young backs and I’m going to have to polish them up, that’s what this weekend will be for.”
Gale is just one of a number of Dubbo talents in the squad.
Greenhalgh has also been impressed by versatile Macquarie youngster Blake Frost, who made the final squad, while CYMS playmakers Matt Burton, Bayden Searle and Jackson Bonham-Phair are joined by Fishies teammate and prop Jack Davis.
Burton, who was a key part of the Rams under-16s triumph last season, shapes as a key cog in Greenhalgh’s plan.
“We need to play a bit more structured at times, we don’t do that at times,” he said. “But I have chopped and changed the sides in the trials and that may have something to do with it.”
With a settled squad now at his disposal, Greenhalgh will work on fine-tuning his side before the opening clash with the Southern Stingrays in Canberra.
“I’m confident with the plans we have in place. They seem to work with the players we have there and if we can get the boys to do it right then we’ll be a force, don’t worry about that,” he said.
WESTERN RAMS: Luke Gale, Blake Frost (Dubbo Macquarie), Jackson Bonham-Phair, Jack Davis, Matt Burton, Bayden Searle (Dubbo CYMS), Warren Baxter, Jayden Burke, Farren Lamb, Charlie Staines (Forbes Magpies), Clayton Couley (Nyngan Tigers), Darby Medlyn (Parkes Spacemen), Brock Naden (Wellington Cowboys), Riley Cheshire (Bathurst St Pat’s), Joe Hobby (Blayney Bears), Ty-Lee Simmonds (Oberon Tigers), Craig Tarr (Orange CYMS), Ray Simmons (Bourke Warriors).
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
