SHANNON Boyd can’t wait to get on to Scully Park on Sunday as the Raiders’ big man prepares to pull on his first representative jersey in the AAMI City-Country clash.
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The front-rower was left fuming this time last year in Wagga when named as 18th man for game day before watching his Country team-mates battle their way to a decisive victory against their metro counterparts.
“I was filthy last year because I just wanted to be out there,” Boyd said.
“It is very exciting to have the opportunity this year and see what it is like.”
After coming up through the ranks at the Cowra Magpies in Group 10, the hulking prop now finds himself surrounded by players who crafted their skills in the bush before being picked up by the national system, and he couldn’t feel more at home in Tamworth.
“We came here for a game with the Raiders against the Knights a few years ago and had a great time,” Boyd said.
“It is always good to get back to the country and around country people.”
Boyd doesn’t have to look far in the nation’s capital or in the Country side to find some fellow central western players, with Raiders fullback Jack Wighton coming from Orange, Melbourne Storm forward Jordan McLean coming from Young, and Panthers flyer Isaah Yeo coming out of Dubbo.
“I remember going to Dubbo and Bathurst and those places to watch the bigger games like this,” Boyd said.
“It is pretty exciting for young kids to see some of these players – I loved it.”
Boyd thought that while the City players might not have been so keen to leave the suburbs, it still means plenty to the Country side and especially players like himself, Yeo, Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin and Mitchell Aubusson, who are looking at their maiden representative jerseys and a chance to impress Blues selectors.
“This match is such a good thing for the country every year,” Boyd said.
“It is also good for the Blues to have a look at players.”
Boyd, who tips the scales at 122kg and stands just under two metres tall, will join a massive pack that includes fellow Raiders front-rower Vaughan, McLean, De Belin, Tariq Sims, Dale Finucane and Boyd Cordner.
“We have got a lot of big boys,” Boyd said.
“Hopefully we can just roll off the back of that.”
The City-Country clash will kick off at 4pm on Sunday at Scully Park.