An "infamous" training session which has quickly gained a reputation around the rugby league community has once again primed the Western Rams for the upcoming regional championships.
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The Rams under 16s and under 18s start their bids for glory in the Johns Cup and Daley Cup respectively this weekend, with both the sides to take on the Illawarra South Coast Dragons at Cowra's Sid Kallis Oval.
The two squads head into that opening round as close-knit unit after three months of build-up, capped by an intense two-day camp at Warren last weekend.
Warren is the home of Rams under 16s coach Tony Woolnough and he hosted the teams for two gruelling days of work, headlined by an intense fitness session run well before sunrise on Sunday morning.
"It's getting that bit of a reputation as a hard session," Woolnough said, the players being woken around 4.30am.
"But I think it's good for the boys. Mentally, it creates some stronger ties and brings them together.
"It's a hard slog but it's good."
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Woolnough and under 18s coach Kurt Hancock are long-serving Rams junior coaches and have been part of camps at Lake Burrendong in previous seasons.
"It's a major part of the Rams program. It brings everyone together and we wouldn't do without it," Woolnough said
"We train all day Saturday and then there's a bit of fun and games in the afternoon and they're up again for the infamous Sunday morning fitness session."
With the camp now done, it's all about Sunday's matches at Cowra.
The final 20-man squads have been selected and while Woolnough has had to deal with a couple of knocks among his players he still heads into the meeting with the Dragons in a hugely positive frame of mind.
Connor Vardenega of Orange CYMS will captain the side and partners St John's powerhouse Jonah Raidaveta in an imposing back-row pairing.
If we do everything as a team then we'll get the result.
- Tony Woolnough
"There's a couple injured who may have made it if they were right but it still looks good and I'm confident in this team," he said.
"I think if we stick to the game plan and play as a team then each individual will shine.
"If we do everything as a team then we'll get the result."
Dubbo CYMS livewire Braye Porter will captain Hancock's under 18s side and is joined in the final squad by Fishies teammates Fletcher Haycock, Riley Wake, Zac Williams, and Cooper Ferrari while Nathan Walker will fly the flag for the Macquarie Raiders.
In a touching tribute, the under 18s Rams will retire the number four jersey on the weekend in honour of former Western and Orange Hawks player Mason Pollack, who passed away last week.
The standard of play in the Johns and Daley Cup competitions this season is expected to be even better than previous years.
With the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions in Sydney changing from under 16s and under 18s respectively to 17s and 19s then more players will still be available for selection in the bush.
Woolnough said this season should be "one of the strongest comps yet" but that only has him, Hancock, and the players even more pumped to kick things off at Cowra.
"It's exciting now," the 16s coach said.
"It's what we've been looking forward to and training for for three months and now we get the finally put it into practice on the paddock."
The under 16s will play at 10am on Sunday while the 18s will follow at 11.20am.
- UNDER 16s: 1 Ronan Hunt-Cameron, 2 Will Cuthill, 3 Malakai Folau, 4 Kaleb Sutherland, 5 Alexander Davies, 6 Fletcher Hunt, 7 Kaydden Hoad, 8 Ethan Young, 9 Chase Cubby, 10 Michael Coady, 11 Jonah Raidaveta, 12 Connor Verdanega (c), 13 Toby Gibson, 14 Cody Crouch, 15 Braith Boyd, 16 Harry Hammond, 17 Jet McAuliffe, 18 Lachlan Crook, 19 Jaiden Powyer.
- UNDER 18s: 1 Samuel Lane, 2 Darcy Leadbitter, 3 David West, 18 Lachlan Lawson, 5 Nathan Walker, 6 Braye Porter (c), 7 Cooper Egan, 8 Jesse Shorter, 9 Fletcher Haycock, 10 Bill Statham, 11 Riley Wake, 12 Finnley Neilsen, 13 Zac Williams, 14 Mitchell Cleary, 15 Cooper Ferrari, 16 Jia Siakisoni, 17 Tobias Miller, 19 Jamie Thorpe, 20 Billy Phillips.
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.
