THE Bushrangers are ready for action.
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After months of training it’s game time for the Northern Inland 15s and 17s.
They kick off their Junior Gold Cup (JGC) campaign against Hunter in Gunnedah on Sunday.
The JGC is the competition component of the ARU’s Pathway to Gold program and was introduced last year.
It saw over 1200 players compete. That number is set to be equalled this year, with Logan and Ipswich joining the competition.
As an extension to the program this year, NSW and Queensland sides – in both age divisions – will be selected to play in a State of Origin fixture on the Easter long weekend.
The Gunnedah game will be the first of three home games for the Bushrangers.
After Sunday they’ve got a double header in Sydney next weekend against Sydney South Harbour and Sydney North West.
They then have a week off before tackling South Australia at TAS on Friday March 6 and then ACT at TAS on Sunday March 15.
Morgan Martin is overseeing the Bushrangers’ program this year and is excited about moving into the game phase.
“We’ve got a really strong squad,” he said.
“We’re confident we’ll be competitive.”
Not that success will be measured by results.
The focus is more about player development and exposing as many players as possible to a higher level of competition.
Both ages have a squad of 25 for the competition phase with 23 playing game day.
That 23 will change each game, with each player guaranteed at least two starts.
While Martin is overseeing the whole program, he will be mainly working with the 17s.
Jeff Watt and Daniel Bowcock will look after the 15s.
It is quite a young squad and, while they will be outmatched for size in most of their games, Watt is confident they will do well.
Doing well by assessment is being competitive and improving.
“The main thing is the kids improve through the game phase and enjoy their rugby,” Watt said.
Being their first game there are a lot of unknowns.
“I’m not worried about the scoreboard,” Watt said.
“As long as we stick to our shape and structures we’ve been training for and play controlled rugby I’ll be happy,” he said.
He said they would have a bit of pace out wide and some good defenders.
The squad is also pretty even across the board so they can put replacements on without losing anything.
The 15s game will kick off at noon with the 17s following at 1.30pm.
