GROUP 4 selectors have had to make three more changes to the squad in the lead-up to tomorrow’s Greater Northern Championships at Scully Park in Tamworth.
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This follows three changes made last week as injuries from club games took their toll on the Mick Schmiedel-coached Group 4 representative team.
All sides in the group will now be represented after Diggers captain- coach Jamie Trindall came into the side to replace injured Narrabri prop Brendan Tago.
Bears captain Marshall Barker will move into the front row, bringing Trindall onto the bench.
Schmiedel said it was difficult for Trindall to get noticed early in the season, with Diggers not getting much ball.
“His game on the weekend against West Tamworth impressed the selectors enough to put him in the side,” Schmiedel said.
“He can play in the front row as well as lock.”
Shane Wadwell has also pulled out of the side with wedding commitments which has brought West’s Ben Jarvis into the side.
Jarvis was selected as a shadow reserve in the original squad and has been performing well for the Lions.
Gunnedah’s Toby Morris has also come into the pack for injured Bears utility Ky Ruru who missed Sunday’s game against Diggers with an injured achilles.
The squad has had a limited preparation for the championships but will have two light sessions before the day.
The squad will meet under lights tonight to have an opposed session against the Group 4 Under 18 team which is also playing on the weekend.
The Brad McManus- trained squad includes several first grade players and will be a handful for the other groups.
On Saturday morning the opens will have another very light session before the games with Schmiedel.
“We will just do another 15 to 20 minutes to get used to playing alongside each other,” Schmiedel said.
It will be a busy day for the coach who is also coaching the Group 4 Under 16s.