Moree Bulls are benefiting from a quality youth injection that has elevated the enthusiasm level at the club and helped offset the loss of key personnel at the end of last season.
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Bulls captain Will Carrigan said a gaggle of youngsters well schooled in rugby at esteemed Sydney learning institutions – such as St Joseph’s College, Sydney Church of England Grammar School and The King’s School – had returned home to work on their families’ farms and were making their presence felt in first grade this season.
He named them as No.8 Sam Callow, flanker Lachlan Smith, second-rowers Cameron Ledingham and Will Smith and winger Josh Walker.
“They’ve been trained really well at city schools,” he said. “They’re getting used to different game plans. It’s obviously a bit slower rugby (than what they are used to) but it’s a lot tougher – they’re bigger blokes and older blokes.”
Carrigan described the fifth-placed Bulls’ start to the season as reasonable but he expected a form spike once the side gelled better and “once we get to know each other a bit better and the new players get used to playing country rugby – start putting some moves together and bond really well.
“It is (beneficial having the younger players) considering we lost a lot of first graders last season,” he added. “They all retired. They have kids and families now. These boys (the youngsters) rocked up at the start of the year and they’re pushing real hard. Every single person is pushing hard at training trying to fight for positions.”
Moree plays Barraba away on Saturday.