BLAYNEY Bears president Adam Hornby has labelled the selection of Orange Hawks recruit Mitch Davis in the preliminary Group 10 squad as a “kick in the teeth” to every other prop in the Group.
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Davis was selected in coach Graeme Osborne’s 24-man Group 10 squad last Sunday night, but is yet to play for the two blues having only been cleared from a brief stint on the Gold Coast last Wednesday.
He’s set to debut for the club against Cowra this weekend.
Still, Hornby described the selection as bizarre, and said he’ll be raising the issue of representative selection at a Group 10 management meeting in the near future.
“I can’t see how you can be picked if you haven’t played a game in the competition yet,” Hornby said.
“Apparently he’s a great player, and I’ve got no doubt he is and if he had played on Sunday (against Blayney) and then got picked there wouldn’t be a problem.
“It’s a kick in the teeth. They’ll wonder next year why no one wants to play rep footy.”
Hornby said he had put his hand up to be a representative selector in 2015, but has heard nothing since.
The team was picked by coach Graeme Osborne and selector Royce George.
“I know of three of four others who put their hands up to help (with rep selection) as well and they’re in the same boat. They won’t get anyone to help with these kinds of jobs next year,” he said.
Osborne knew of Davis’ presence at Hawks prior to Sunday’s naming of the squad, and is aware of the quality of the two blues recruit having coached the three-time premiership winner with Albury Thunder at an under 18s level with Western Division.
But Hornby believes the form of players who’d started in the first two rounds of the competition warranted selection in a preliminary squad.
Especially ahead of anyone who hasn’t played a competition game yet.
He said Bears duo Terawhiti Cooper (TC) and Will Ingram were hard done by after leading their side to two wins in two weeks, while the likes of CYMS gun Simon Osborne and Oberon frontrower Wade Judd, both of whom have represented at a high level, were also stiffed by the selection of Davis.
“TC has played his best two games with the club to start the season,” Hornby said.
“And Will has probably been our best player. Osborne has played Country and Wade Judd played Western Division last year and can’t even make the Group 10 side this year.”
The 24-man squad will be cut to 18 this Sunday.
Group 10 plays Group 11 on May 2.
