NORTH Tamworth is facing one of the better coaching dilemmas a club can hope for as the Bears tested out their halves combinations and depth in a three-way trial domination last Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
All three Tamworth clubs played each other in one half of football as the curtainraiser to the Legends of League Origin match, following the Armidale Rams late withdrawal from the card.
The Bears put five tries on the Oxley Diggers and four on the West Lions while only letting one Diggers try in, while Wests just pipped the Diggers in a closer affair.
Returning Bears coach Brad McManus must be rubbing his hands together after the return of Clayton Cup winning former captain Marshall Barker from the Moree Boars, as well as classy half Abel Carney, who was also in that historic 2014 side before taking a season off.
Carney faces some stiff opposition for a run on spot however, with McManus having Group 4 skipper Kieran Fisher, last season’s top try scorer Scott Blanch and last year’s top point scorer Richard Clegg to choose from in the playmaker roles.
Carney said that while he is still not sure who is going to play where, he believes Blanch will start at hooker, but the two halves and fullback spot could be any combination.
Carney also likes the looks of new outside backs Jake McManus and James Duchatel, who add even more potency to the premiers out wide, McManus claiming a swag of tries at the Wests Knockout a few weeks ago.
“It is good to be able to move the players around a bit like that,” Carney said.
“Brock Wadwell can also come in for Blanch at hooker.”
Carney was changing between five-eight and fullback on Saturday, and said he doesn’t mind where he plays in this team.
“The club has come a long way since I was a junior and it is great to have Spitter (McManus) back,” Carney said.
“He has got a lot of knowledge and is just a good bloke to have in the club.”
“The league tag has brought the girls and the families in, there are kids at training and it is just a great club to be at.”
Carney believes that club culture is the reason the Bears are able to have such good player retention and build grand final sides like this one attempting a triple defence of the crown this season.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead but I think we are in for a really good season,” Carney said.
The Bears launch their season at the Oxley Bowling Club from noon this Saturday and then kick off their defence on May 1 with a home game against Narrabri, while the Diggers travel to Gunnedah and Armidale host their first Group 4 game against West Lions.
