A total of 10 junior teams will be flying the flag for the town against the best the state has to offer in the three-day tournament.

The event attracts more than 5000 players from 350 teams from all areas of NSW.

Tamworth Oztag junior co-ordinator Katrina Davis is expecting a strong showing from our boys and girls in Coffs.

“Our biggest crew in the past was nine teams, so to have 10 this year is fantastic,” Davis said.

“We’re fielding five boys’ teams in the nine, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years age groups and five girls’ teams in the 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 age groups.”

Davis added the teams have been preparing for this event for the past five months.

“All of our teams have been training consistently since October,” she said.

“It has been quite a long off-season for the kids, they have been doing a lot of training without the chance to play games.

“So they’re looking forward to getting out there and having some excellent competition.

“I think we’re going to produce a great standard of play and not be daunted by the prospect of going up against the city sides.”

Tamworth is likely to have some sides capable of going deep in the tournament and possibly win their respective divisions.

The 14’s girls reached the final of the national championships last year and will be looking to go one better at the state level.

The 16’s girls also are perennial contenders, having made the post-season consistently in previous years.

There are also good prospects when it comes to one of Tamworth’s youngest sides, the 11’s girls as Davis explained.

“They are our newest team and have a good bit of quality in the team,” she said.

“The team is coached by Abby Schmiedel and Brodii Ingram, who have both been named in the Australian squad.

“It is their first time in a coaching role and the girls in that age group are like sponges, they are soaking all the guidance up.”

In the boys’, Davis believes the 12’s and 16’s teams could be the standouts.

“The 12’s should do well, while the 16’s boys have been quite consistent in the past few years,” she said.

“Our 14’s has been knocked around by injuries, so it’s going to be tough for them.”

In a change for the Oztag scene, there will be no State Of Origin series in 2017, with the concept shelved.

“Whatever reason they’ve cancelled it and I think are going to try a different format for next year,” Davis said.

In more news, registrations are now being taken for the junior competitions.

You can get a nomination form via www.tamworthjunioroztag.com, while the association is also holding a referee clinic on Wednesday.

The clinic is from 5pm-6.30pm, with everyone to meet at the clubhouse.

Bring a whistle and Oztag playing shorts, with pizza and cold drinks available after the clinic.