POTENTIALLY wearing green and gold should be motivation enough for Central West’s four New South Wales Country Cockatoos colts representatives, Blue Bulls colts coach John Hamilton said.
Emus’ prop Brenton Braithwaite, Orange City fullback Terry Brown, Blayney Rams’ No.8 Ricky Scott and Forbes lock Daryen Hazell are a part of the Country Cockatoos colts train-on squad which will travel to Sydney this weekend, to take part in an intensive trial camp.
The camp includes several training and bonding exercises, and a series of selection matches against the NSW Waratahs colts training squads.
At the weekend’s conclusion a final squad of 25 will be named to play in the Southern States Colts Championships in Adelaide, from February 22-24.
Teams from ACT, Queensland Country, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia will also contest the SSCCs, and the competition will act as another selection trial, for the Southern States Colts.
The Southern States Colts will then play  against the Queensland Reds and Waratahs Colts, vying for selection in the Australian under 20s team to contest the Junior Rugby World Cup in June.
Hamilton said he fully expects all four players to excel in the Cockatoos set-up.
“I’ll back all four of these guys to perform at that level,” he said.
“They’re playing for a position in the Australian under 20s team to play in a World Cup. If that isn’t motivation I don’t know what is.”
Hamilton said it was especially pleasing to see Scott selected.
“It’s fantastic to see someone like Ricky get a chance,” Hamilton said.
“It’s sometimes a lot harder for those playing the second tier competition to get noticed. I’ve always tried to encourage the smaller towns’ teams, and the ANFD, now Graincorp, Cup teams to get their players to trial. He’s been playing No.8 for Blayney, but he moved into hooker for us last year and I think that’s his spot. He lacks a bit of the height necessary to play eight.”
Hamilton said all four had the potential to go all the way.
“Brenton has a heap of ability, I think he might just be lacking a bit of self-belief,” he said.
“But to play first grade all year in the front row at 18 or 19, that’s pretty big. Terry had a bit of an injury last year, but he’ll come back bigger and better this season, and Daryen is a big, young bloke, with plenty of ability.”