Western coach Tim Ryan is putting his faith in exciting Group 11 halves Josh Merritt and Chad Porter to orchestrate a Rams victory in Saturday evening's trial clash against the Riverina Bulls at West Wyalong's Ron Crowe Oval.
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Ryan has named the enigmatic Nyngan five-eighth and gun Parkes halfback to direct traffic in a Group 10-heavy Rams side looking to form, and cement, some combinations ahead of their monumental clash against France on October 30.
Wellington Cowboys fullback Will Lousick has been named at fullback while Orange CYMS hooker Ryan Griffin rounds out the Rams' spine, how the quartet works together shapes as potentially the most important factor before the side's rendezvous with the French.
CYMS fullback Lachie Munro has also been named on the wing, while Oberon custodian Jackson Brien will start in the centres with Bathurst Panthers three-quarter Blake Lawson.
Ryan highlighted both Brien and Lawson as two of his troops he's intrigued to get a look at following the Rams' training session at Wellington last week, which reinforced what he's heard on the grapevine.
We trained last Thursday at Wellington and all the boys were really keen and excited," he said.
"Blake Lawson I haven't seen play too much and I know he's hard to handle out in the centres so I'm looking forward to seeing that. Jackson Brien's another I'm keen to see more of," Ryan said.
Will Lousick had a great year for the Wellington Cowboys (too). It will be great to see how they all come together."
Ryan admitted he knows little of the Bulls, although they have named a handy side that includes former Orange Hawks monster Saul Houma and ex-Cowra halfback Cameron Breust.
Riverina coach Luke Berkrey said he's confident his side can down the Rams, and he said that before it became apparent former NRL stars Chris Grevsmuhl, Josh Starling and Justin Carney wouldn't play on Saturday night.
They're expected to line up against the French though, and Ryan went on to say how pleased he is to see an open Rams side once again have the chance to take the field.
Country Rugby League changed its championship age to under 23s in 2017, which in turn made the Rams' open side virtually redundant save for a exhibition games.
"We've had the 23s for three years previously so anyone 24-plus hasn't been able to represent, and I think there's definitely room for it," Ryan said.
"To think that you're washed up and too old for rep footy at 24 is not a good thing. We don't know too much about Riverina but they'll be excited as well because they haven't had a senior team for the same period of time.
"To be playing footy in late October shows that they're keen."
Western have named an under-23 squad that will face Riverina as well, with Blayney Bears duo Joey and Lochie Hobby named alongside each other in the second row.
The Rams' under 23s kick off at 5pm with the open trial expected to start at 6.30pm.
- WESTERN RAMS: 1 Will Lousick (Wellington Cowboys), 2 Lachlan Munro (Orange CYMS), 3 Jackson Brien (Oberon Tigers), 4 Blake Lawson (Bathurst Panthers), 5 Aiden Ryan (Wellington Cowboys), 6 Josh Merritt (Nyngan Tigers), 7 Chad Porter (Parkes Spacemen), 8 Ethan McKellar (Orange Hawks), 9 Ryan Griffin (Orange CYMS), 10 Ben Maguire (Forbes Magpies), 11 Alex Ronayne (Dubbo CYMS), 12 Billy Sing (Dubbo CYMS), 13 Jake Betts (Bathurst Panthers); BENCH: 14 Nick Loader (Bathurst Panthers), 15 Casey Burgess (Mudgee Dragons), 16 Jedd Betts (Bathurst Panthers), 17 Ben Marlin (Dubbo CYMS), 18 Brandon Tago (Parkes Spacemen)
- WESTERN UNDER 23s: 1 Jesse Wighton (Forbes Magpies), 2 Clinton Edwards (Nyngan Tigers), 3 Nathan McAndrew (Cobar Roosters), 4 Brock Naden (Wellington Cowboys), 5 Michael Latu (Bathurst St Pat's), 6 Farren Lamb (Oberon Tigers), 7 Thomas Toohey (Forbes Magpies), 8 Mackenzie Duttfield (Wellington Cowboys), 9 Wade Kavanagh (Dubbo CYMS), 10 Jay Slavin (Parkes Spacemen), 11 Joe Hobby (Blayney Bears), 12 Lochie Hobby (Blayney Bears), 13 Brogan Black (Wellington Cowboys); BENCH: 14 Bailey Hartwig (Forbes Magpies), 15 Ty-Lee Simmons (Oberon Tigers), 16 Aiden Woods (Mudgee Dragons), 17 Brad Watt (Trundle Boomers)