WERRIS Creek selectors have named former North Tamworth Bears Aaron Considine and Tyrone Clark in their 17-man squad to play Taree City in the Country Challenge Cup first-round match in Muswellbrook this Saturday.
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Considine and Clark have been named despite not being cleared by the Bears.
Magpie coach Ron Dellar is hoping the Bears will clear the pair in time for them to play Saturday.
“We’re hoping commonsense prevails,” Dellar said Monday night.
North Tamworth has refused to clear the pair, claiming the two first grade stars and a number of other players have been illegally poached by various clubs.
North Tamworth club president Gary Chillingworth is outraged his club’s numbers continue to be eaten away by the poaching.
He said the latest Norths player to go under the hammer was last season’s reserve grade grand final halfback John Knox.
Norths believe Knox has signed with re-formed second division club Manilla.
“We’re losing a player a day,” Chillingworth said.
“I spoke to Tony (La Chiusa) and he said Wests are in the same position (as Norths).
“We’ve got a situation where the two Tamworth clubs who had grand final sides in reserve grade last year are struggling to field sides this season.”
Chillingworth said there were two issues which Group 4 should be taking a close look at.
One is that new clubs should not be allowed to recruit players to the detriment of already existing clubs and the other is players residing in a town cannot go and play for a club in another town.
Chillingworth said there were motions passed on the Group 4 books relating to both of the above issues.
The North Tamworth president is annoyed Group 4 has not come out with a ruling on the matter.
“We’re left with the situation where clubs have to fight it out in the media which isn’t ideal,” Chillingworth said.
Werris Creek officials are also annoyed with the Bear stance.
They believe the rules regarding poaching of players refer to new second division clubs.
Werris Creek is in a different situation.
It was raided by other Group 4 first division and second division teams at the end of the 1998 season and was forced to play the last two seasons in the second division due to lack of numbers.
But a number of former players have returned to help the club move back to first division in 2001.
One of those is former Creek junior Aaron Considine.
He gave the Bears good service for the couple of seasons he played and left on good terms to rejoin his former club, specifically to play with his brother, Michael, who is returning from stints at both Norths and West Lions.
Michael Considine has been cleared by the West Lions, along with Stewart Porter, whereas Aaron’s clearance is being refused.
“Aaron and Michael just want to play a season together,” Dellar said. “They’ve never played together before.
“Their younger brother, James, is also playing under 18s for us. And he goes all right too.”
Dellar said both Aaron Considine and Tyrone Clark have been named pending the clearances.
If not received, he will be forced to change his squad.
He is also giving star five-eighth Corey Wilson until later in the week to show he is over a knee injury he suffered in the recent Muswellbrook 7s.
WERRIS CREEK: 1 Michael Saunders, 2 Rob Symington, 3 Daniel Wilson, 4 Tyrone Clark, 5 Jason Carter, 6 Stewart Porter, 7 Darren Smith, 8 Aaron Considine, 9 Geoff Sharp, 10 Darren Saunders, 11 Warwick Saddler, 12 Michael Considine, 13 Troy Parry, 14 Troy Wilson, 15 Ray Saunders, 16 Corey Wilson, 17 Shaun Allan.
