It mightn’t read as strong on paper but Central North co-coach Hunter Harley believes the squad he and Tom Cullen have assembled is well equipped to challenge for the Caldwell Cup at Port Macquarie this weekend.
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In some aspects Harley rates this years squad the best they have fielded in his and Cullen’s time involved.
“We’ve probably got a team that is playing better as a team than in the last three years,” Harley said.
He remarked how quickly they have taken to the structure despite around half of the squad having never been involved before.
It is a bit of a changing of the guard with at least six of the starting side for their semi-final against Illawarra on Saturday making their Central North opens debut.
They have had to make a late change, with Narrabri backrower Jack Maunder starting at seven for Matt McDonnell and Gunnedah’s Will Archer coming into the squad.
The Illawarriors are the reigning champions and will be chasing an historic third straight triumph, but have Harley understands similarly undergone a big turnover.
“To be honest I don’t know what to expect,” he said.
Other than they will be bigger and quicker than what they are accustomed to.
“We’ve got to weather that storm,” he said.
Critically they’ve also got to play at their pace. They can’t get caught up trying to play at the Illawarriors’ pace as they learnt in last years semi-final against Newcastle.
The Kookaburras were right in it until midway through the second half when the fatigue of trying to compete with Newcastle’s speed and intensity got to them.
“A lot will rest on how Tom (Cullen) rotates his forwards,” Harley said.
In saying that, one of things Harley likes about the squad is the balance of the forwards. That balance extends right through the 25.
“We’re probably more even across the paddock and a bit more like for like on the bench,” he said.
He also spoke about not being as reliant on the backs as they have been.
The backs will still be a strength with Pirates’ Andrew Moodie and captain Simon Newton directing them.
Country rep Newton will be one of the Kookaburras trump cards partnering Walcha club-mate Pat Keene in the centres.
Harley has been very impressed with what he’s seen from Keene both in defence and attack.
The Kookaburras Colts will take to the field at 10am for their Tier Two clash with Far North Coast after the Kookaburras women tackle New England.
- Central North opens squad: 1 Ross Fletcher, 2 Will Carrigan, 3 Will Robinson, 4 Sione Kamoto, 5 Jack Sharpe (vc), 6 Toby Twigg, 7 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Callow, 9 Jack Jack, 10 Andrew Moodie, 11 Ben Legg, 12 Simon Newton ©, 13 Pat Keene , 14 Dan Sweeney, 15 Jake Packer, 16 Josh Leys, 17 Mac Latabua, 18 Doug McKillop, 19 Mitch Wheaton, 20 Will Archer, 21 Cameron Mitchell, 22 Kyle O'Connor, 23 Dom Bower, 24 Scott Houston, 25 Tim Vaughan.
