Oxley Diggers, formed late last year, the brainchild of former West Tamworth and Tamworth City premiership- winning player and coach Mick Schmiedel, host their first trial games at Jack Woolaston Oval this afternoon,  club publicity officer Troy Jeffriess said.

“The senior men’s squad will be hosting the University of Newcastle Sea Horses and our Ladies League tag will be playing against the North Tamworth Bears,” Jeffriess said.

The ladies’ game will commence at 4pm and the men’s game will commence at around 5.15pm. 

Cost for the games is a gold coin donation.

While the Sea Horses dock to tackle the Diggers at Bear Park, the Greater Northern Academy teams are in action at Cessnock’s Baddeley Park today.

They are  the first games for the talented young GNA Cubs and Tigers to put into practice what their coaches have been drilling and up-skilling them with since November.

While they play the Newcastle Knights development teams today, they also tackle the North Coast and Northern Rivers academies in Tamworth next Saturday.

They may also play curtain- raisers to the Newcastle Knights-Canberra Raiders NRL trial.

Today, the GNA Cubs play the Newcastle Knights Chargers at 1pm, whilst the older GNA squad, the Tigers, will play the Knights Under 17s at 2.30pm.

GNA CUBS: Josh Bermingham, Harrison Buhler, Brad Collett, James Fisk, Marcus Hayne, Jesse Hourn, Cameron Howard, Kydan Howard, Jack Inder, Jack Jeffery, Brayden Jerrard, Blake Kellett, Hayden Loughrey, Jake Parker, Ben Price, Phillip Quinlan, Jorden Symington, Zach Taylor, Cameron Thorne, Lachlan Walmsley.

GNA TIGERS: Isaac Austin, Tye Barry, Scott Berry, Chris Dillon, Noa Durham, Zac Faulkner, Brayden Gallagher, Ryan Horton, Brad Johnston, Isaac Laird, Mitch Lennon, Corey Manicaros, Greg Press, John Boy Quinlan, Tom Say, Jed Smith, Matt Thompson, Josh Upward, Tye Walklate, Sam White.