CENTRAL West Colts (under 20s) co-coach John Hamilton is expecting the unexpected.
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Trials for the Blue Bulls Colts are this Sunday, and Hamilton said despite seeking expressions of interest it is impossible to predict which players will attend.
“It’s a bit of a lottery really,” he said.
“We never really know what will happen until we get to the trials. The best example is the guys from CSU who would be suited to central west, they aren’t back at uni and we don’t know if they’ll travel or not.
“We’ll definitely have a strong squad regardless.”
The Colts will be boosted by the return of several of last year’s Blue Bulls team, which finished joint country champions with Newcastle-Hunter, along with four New South Wales Country representatives.
They include Emus prop Brenton Braithwaite, Orange City fullback Terry Brown, Blayney hooker Ricky Scott and Forbes lock Daryen Hazell.
“Obviously we did get some expressions of interest,” he said. “And we did talk to a few of the boys to make sure they were interested in playing again. So hopefully, we’ll get quite a few of the guys from last year back.
“They’ve picked the country side very early this year, and it’s great to see those four get a run.”
Hamilton conceded he was slightly concerned about the impact of selecting a Cockatoos Colts squad so early could have on the Blue Bulls team.
“A lot of guys might see the squad being named and think their chance is gone,” he explained.
“But hopefully they realise the team they’ve picked is for the Southern States Championships, and guys who represent central west at the NSW Country Championships still have a chance of being included in the Cockatoos squad for later games.
“It’s not about individual success, it’s about the pride of representing central west, but having that opportunity is a huge factor in a lot of guys coming to trial, and playing.”
The Central West Colts trials start at 4pm this Sunday at Endeavour Oval, Orange.