Orange Emus' preparation for the 2019 Blowes Clothing Cup continues this weekend, a bumper group of the greens' best are heading south in search of Morgan's Kiama Sevens glory.
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Emus used the Kiama Sevens as a pre-season hit-out in 2018 as well, but went through the Country Pool winless.
"Last year's side was made up of some young players and lower grade players and they did a great job, we unearthed a bit of talent there," Emus' skipper Nigel Staniforth said.
"Without discounting their effort we have got a bit more organised this year and we've put together what's just about our best side for this form of the game I think, we're all very keen and it should be a good weekend."
Staniforth will line-up this weekend alongside the likes of Tom Green, Lachie Harris, Simon Badgery, Nick Hughes-Clapp and Harry Cummins, with premiership-winning five-eighth Kyran Bubb making the trek from Newcastle to don the green jersey once again too.
The two guns Staniforth is really looking forward to seeing in action though, are young half Louis Carr and boom recruit Jamil Khalfan.
Carr was the undeniable star of Emus' campaign at the Kiama Sevens last year and is expected to combine in the halves - or as close to the halves as sevens allows - with Khalfan this weekend, the latter appears to one of the main options to replace Bubb in the No.10 jersey this winter.
"We've not seen Jamil really outside training but he looks good and Louis' a very talented young player, so it'll be good to see how they work together and how they go with a bit of space," Staniforth said.
"More than anything we're just really looking forward to getting on the paddock, and some of the younger guys are very keen to keep learning this form of the game."
Emus' Pool B campaign - they've been lifted out of the Country Pool this year - kicks off at 8.15am against Shoalhaven on Saturday morning, before they face Forest at 11am and Sydney Convicts - Australia's first gay and inclusive club - at 2pm.
The Premier Pool semi-finals kick-off at 4.30pm, but Emus will progress to the Bowl Final if they top their pool, which starts at 4.45pm.
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Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
