Cameron Greenhalgh will be looking for players with passion for the Western Rams jersey when he takes charge of the under 23s representative squad for this first time this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Greenhalgh has replaced Tim Ryan as coach for the 2020 season and the Rams play their first trial in the lead-up to the country championships at Forbes on Saturday.
It will be a massive day to launch the representative season, with the Rams' 16s and 18s sides also starting their respective Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup campaigns at Spooner Oval.
All three Western side will be taking on Riverina.
The weekend will mark Greenhalgh's return to representative coaching, having mentored Western 16s and 18s sides in the past.
"It's good to be back," the Forbes Magpies coach said.
"The boys are a bit older and wiser now and it's a bit different to coaching them three or four years ago."
The Rams have been pooled with the Greater Southern Region Tigers and reigning champions Illawarra South Coast in this season's country championships, with the first of those matches to be played on March 8.
The Tigers were the side Western defeated last season in a landmark result.
It marked the first time a Rams 23s side had scored a win in the country championships but the bid to go one better and advance to the semi-finals hasn't begun in ideal circumstances.
I'm looking for blokes who are eager to learn and make it a good environment.
- Cameron Greenhalgh
Greenhalgh hasn't had a lot of opportunities to work with his extended training squad and a planned trial against the Greater Northern Tigers earlier this month was called off because of extreme heat.
But the squad did have the benefit of a two-and-a-half hour session with the Penrith Panthers' Canterbury Cup and Jersey Flegg sides recently.
"The boys responded well in that limited and started to click. Hopefully we can improve more," Greenhalgh said.
"I'm looking for blokes to stand up. Those who make a mark and are looking to progress.
"If we get into the [country championships] semi-finals then it's more of a chance for them to be looked at, whether that's for a Country jersey or by an NRL club.
"I'm looking for blokes who are eager to learn and make it a good environment. Blokes who really want to wear that guernsey."
A number of players, such as Mitch Burke and Joey Hobby, worked under the experienced mentor in the junior representative program but a plenty of others were relative unknowns to Greenhalgh.
But the one player who has particularly caught the eye is someone the coach is extremely familiar with.
Elusive outside back Jesse Wighton, who played with Forbes last season but has been strongly linked with a move to Wellington, was singled out by the coach for his fitness levels and efforts at training.
A final Western squad has yet to be locked in, with a squad of roughly 25 expected to be on deck for Saturday's trial.
Last season's captain, Ethan McKellar of Orange Hawks, will be back again while the Group 11 contingent is set to be headlined by Wellington premiership winners Will Lousick and Brock Naden, Dubbo CYMS' Wade Kavanagh, Forbes' Bailey Hartwig and Burke brothers Mitch and Jaiden, as well as Parkes enforcer Jay Slavin.
McKellar's fellow Group 10 stars in the extended squad include Hawks teammate Nathan Potts, Cody Godden of Lithgow, and Hobby, who has returned to Blayney after a stint in Penrith's lower grades.
Saturday's match against the Riverina, which will be played in four 20-minute quarters, kicks off at 3pm.
The match follows a hit-out between Far West and the Western under 18s development side, while the Andrew Johns Cup match is at 5pm and the Laurie Daley Cup fixture is at 6.20pm.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...