Wellington fullback Alister Beale has forced his way into a reshuffled backline for Group 11’s NSW Country Championships clash with Group 20 at Narrabri on Saturday.
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In a revamped back seven, Dubbo CYMS’ Joe Williams is missing due to personal reasons, meaning Forbes’ Adam Hall switches from five-eighth to halfback, Wellington’s Corey Stanley slots into five-eighth while Richard Peckham replaces Stanley on the wing after playing fullback last week.
That opens a slot for Beale, the brother of Wallabies fly-half Kurtley Beale, who made his debut for Wellington last Sunday after a stint with the Canterbury under-20s.
Group 11 president and selector Ross McDermott said his panel had no qualms including Beale in the side despite him only playing one game in the competition.
“Alister has played under-20s for the past couple of years but he plays in Group 11 now and has a lot of ability,” McDermott said.
“He is also a goalkicker which will come in handy because we lose Joe Williams, whose wife is having a baby.”
Group 11 will also take an 18th man to Narrabri with Wellington hard man Nathan Thompson, brother of CYMS and Group 11 forward Chris Thompson, selected to travel with the squad.
Group 11 coach Darren Jackson said he was happy with the make-up of his squad, which started to gel at the end of last week’s 32-18 win against Group 6.
The squad will get one training run together before the game, with a 2pm session scheduled for Apex Oval on Friday before the team hops on the bus to Narrabri.
“The boys really started to hit their straps at the end of last week’s game and I hope we can carry that on,” Jackson said.
“One advantage for us is that we have minimal changes which is important when you aren’t getting much of a chance to train as a group.
“If you play good, basic footy you will win 90 per cent of matches so that will be our plan again this week, especially given our lack of proper preparation.”
