GNA inductees undergoing fitness testing in Tamworth recently. They will return for their first big camp early next month. Photo: Grant Robertson 201012GRC17
GREATER Northern Academy squad members might have an extra game on their summer training rugby league calendar.
GNA head coach Peter Stevens said trial games against the Parramatta Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup sides might be added to the trials against the Newcastle and Balmain Tiger academies in Cessnock after Christmas.
He has 43 players in two squads that go into a two-day camp in Tamworth on November 10-11.
“We’ve got 20 in the older Maroon squad and 23 in the Gold.
“The Golds are mainly 17s with a few 18s and most of them are in their first year in the academy.”
He said the recent induction day also conducted some fitness testing.
The November 10-11 camp would be full-on, he said of a fitness and training weekend.
“We will hook in there,” he said.
“The two squads look pretty good – very even, no real standouts but there’s a number of kids there who are already linked up with NRL clubs.
“Beau Parry is at Newcastle and Zack Leonard with the Gold Coast.
“I’m sure there will be more of them being chased by the NRL clubs.
“At this stage we have the Newcastle and Tiger trials at Cessnock after Christmas but we’re also hopeful of playing the Parramatta Harold Matthews and SG Ball sides in Armidale too.
“If that happens it will be a February 2 trial date.
In the meantime all 43 players have been given training schedules to maintain and they will need to be in good condition when they line up for the Tamworth camp in two weekends’ time.