Western hasn’t started its AAMI Regional Championship campaign yet, but Kurt Hancock already thinks his 2017 under-16 Rams squads is packed full of potential future NRL stars.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This weekend the 31-strong group will have the chance to prove why the Bathurst coach has such faith in their talent when the Rams take on the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles’ Harold Matthews Cup squad.
For the sake of the trial – at Dubbo’s Caltex Park – the Western squad is being split into two teams to take on Manly’s under-16 group, the games will act as a final selection trial for Hancock’s final team for the Regional Championship later this year.
The trials come after a rigorous training campaign over the summer, which included sessions and in-house trials at Orange, Forbes and Warren.
Of the blockbuster group, Orange CYMS props Josh Piper and Mitch Collins and Blayney Bears centre Dylan Marmion will be pressing their claims for a Rams jersey.
“Originally we wanted to cut the squad back after our in-house trial at Forbes, but their efforts have been outstanding,” Hancock said, explaining why the Rams will field two teams this weekend.
“Because we’ve got such a lot of good players, we’ve got 31 who will be going over to Dubbo this weekend in two very good sides.
“They are such a strong age group, and we’ve got really high expectations for them.
“After the trial against Manly we’ll cut the squad, we should have an idea after that which guys are going to be pulling on a Western jumper.
“But they’ve just been outstanding, their test results are better than last year’s. A lot of spots are still open … there is a lot of very good players.”
Piper will line-up at prop for the under-16 Green side while Collins will bookend the under-16 White unit, Marmion will also play in the latter side.
All three are among a group of Rams Hancock says has the potential to make it big.
“I’ve been talking to a few people who have got connections with the NRL, telling them that this is a really good age group,” Hancock said.
“You’ll see a fair few of these guys with NRL clubs in the future.
“Even those who don’t go on to NRL clubs but stay here and go through the grades … it’s only going to make the football we’ve got here stronger as well.”
As for Saturday’s match against the Sea Eagles, Hancock thinks there is enough talent within the two sides to test their more fancied rivals.
A strong start will be crucial, as will having the young Rams back their own talents.
“If we compete for that first 20 minutes against the Manly squad - especially their physicality early because you’ve got to remember that these kids do four-five days a week up there plus gym sessions – I think our kids are going to be really competitive,” Hancock said.
“Having seen the way our guys train and the progression that they’ve made, I think they can do well.
“It’ll be a good game, hopefully they go out there and don’t get too nervous and back themselves.
“They’ve just got to believe in themselves and believe in the players they’ve got around them.”
The under-16 game kicks off at 4.40pm, before the under-18 fixture at 6.30pm.
WESTERN RAMS UNDER-16 GREEN: 1 Ben Glasheen, 2 Dylan Miles, 3 Coopa Martin, 4 Mackenzie Atkins, 5 Raymond Towney, 6 Thomas Toohey, 7 Harry Blake, 8 Josh Piper, 9 Cam Woolnough, 10 Logan Conn, 11 Nick Barlow, 12 Kyle McClenehan, 13 Nathan Ward, 14 Braith Good, 15 Colby Peckham, 16 Jared Burns
WESTERN RAMS UNDER-16 WHITE: 1 Aiden Luke, 2 Harry Hopkins, 3 Kyle Hartley, 4 Dylan Marmion, 5 Jack McLeod, 6 James Nelson, 7 Noah Ryan, 8 Brad Fearnley, 9 Sully Haycock, 10 Mitch Collins, 11 Kevin Large, 12 Thomas Stimpson, 13 Jackson Sulter, 14 Ben Lovett, 15 Jarod Peachey
