CANOBOLAS Rural Technology High School PDHPE teacher, and Bathurst Panthers ace, Monique Christie-Johnston wasn’t surprised when she missed selection in the initial Western Rams squad, she had a feeling she was in the mix though after performing strongly for Group 10.

Her feeling was right, so much so she was called into the squad for this weekend’s AAMI Country Championship eliminator in Camden after Gilgandra’s Shay Naden withdrew.

“I was actually only called up this week, Shay ... withdrew so I was the lucky one who took her place,” Christie-Johnston, a Group 10 title-winning Panthers captain, said.

“It was pretty tough competition over there at the trials, I was playing in the forwards and it was a position where basically everyone in the four teams there did their job so it was hard to stand out.

“After getting asked to play I was very happy to put my hand up and get involved, I know a lot of the Group 10 girls, I know it is a strong squad and after speaking with a couple of my Panthers team-mates in the squad they told me that the whole training process has been a really positive one.”

The two players she referred to are Claire Woolmington and Matilda Power, two of the younger Panthers players but also two of their stand-out talents.

The Rams will face the Greater Southern Stars on Saturday at Kirkham Oval and though this might be the first chance any players have been given to play for a Country Championship in, the Rams players aren’t going in totally blind.

“I think Kiama are part of the Southern area, and I know that they have won the premier’s competition for the last two years that all the Group winners go to. [Panthers] competed there two seasons ago and (Bathurst) St Pat’s did last season,” Christie-Johnston explained.

“On that basis I would think they are going to be pretty strong. 

“I think to take out the whole tournament in its first edition would be incredible but I’m just hoping that we can get a win to start with in that first game and then maybe re-adjust our sights a bit.”

Christie-Johnson is joined in the Rams side by Blayney duo Liv Bird and Sophie Stammers, who will form the side’s centre pairing, along with Manildra’s Heidi Reagan.

Kick-off is scheduled for noon.

WESTERN RAMS: 1 Heidi Reagan (Manildra Rhinos), 2 Tarlee Roberts (Dubbo Westside), 3 Liv Bird (Blayney Bears), 4 Sophie Stammers (Blayney Bears), 5 Claire Woolmington (Bathurst Panthers), 6 Mish Somers (Bathurst St Pat’s), 7 Matilda Power (Bathurst Panthers), 8 Chrystal Thompson (Dubbo CYMS), 9 Ella J Harris (Parkes Spacies), 10 Mikala Mongan (Eugowra Golden Eagles), 11 Sally Dwyer (Parkes Spacies), 12 Karah Armstrong (Bathurst St Pat’s), 13 Rikka Lane-Lamb (Dubbo CYMS); Interchange: 14 Tori Canham (Coonamble Bearettes), 15 Monique Christie-Johnson (Bathurst Panthers)