Seven-time Western champions Group 10 dominate the 2019 Rams league tag squad and coach Jess Skinner is hoping that superiority will translate into country championship success too.
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After a stunning 24-6 victory over Group 11 at Forbes, netting the blue and whites a seventh straight Western crown, Group 10 guns Bronte Emanuel, Rebecca Ford, Paige Hay, Amy Hotham, Meredith Jones, Erin Naden, Michelle Somers and Sophie Stammers make up over half of Skinner's 15-strong rep squad.
Five Group 11 players and Woodbridge Cup stars Heidi Regan and Molly Hoswell make up rest of the squad, the former selected despite being out injured for the last two months.
Regan's higher-level props are serious though and using the Cargo speedster's pace alongside the powerhouse Group 10 representation is viewed as the ideal mix to progress out of the championship's southern pool.
"Absolutely our goal is to use our speed and experience to win ," Skinner said.
"We're hoping to do well at southern and then take on northern after that. For us now it's all about getting the team together enough to gel."
The squad will gather at Molong twice for training in the lead-up to their first game of the championship at Yass against Riverina on July 20.
The Rams girls will then play Monaro and Greater Southern Stars in rounds two and three before a winners progress through to the finals against their northern rivals.
It'll be a similar path for the Western under 16s girls, the inaugural juniors squad named on Thursday as well and highlighted by the inclusion of Group 10 and Orange Hawks star Jes Pearson.
Pearson scored three tries in Group 10's senior win over Group 11 in the Western final but was ineligible for the Rams open team because she's not yet 17.
This year we went for experience ... having Mish back is massive for us. There's no one like her and we're hoping she gives us a bit of an edge.
- Western coach Jess Skinner.
Skinner said there was a stack of talent at Forbes for the trial and it made for a good headache at the selection table.
"This year we went for experience. Young girls like Indi (Draper) and Erin (Naden) went last year so they know what the country champs are like ... and having Mish back is massive for us after missing her last year. Really, there's no one like her and we're hoping she gives us a bit of an edge," Skinner said.
St Pat's master coach Mick Armstrong will mentor the under 16s girls.
"It's a great concept, particularly when we're trying to develop the senior side as well," Skinner added.
- OPENS: Maddison Chapman, India Draper, Bronte Emanuel, Rebecca Ford, Paige Hay, Molly Hoswell, Amy Hotham, Meredith Jones, Mikala Mongan, Erin Naden, Heidi Regan, Alahna Ryan, Michelle Somers, Sophie Stammers, Taneka Todhunter.
- UNDER 16s: Isabella Attwater, Sophie Banks, Ella Barrett, Shanese Lane Bergan, Rebekka Choyce, Skye Crawford, Kate Fallon, Katie Fullwood, India Krause, Sally McCarroll, Jesyca Pearson, Libby Peschka, Maddie Thornhill, Marites Woods, Sophie Whiteman, Lily Booth (emergency)
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