Central North opens coaches Hunter Harley and Tom Cullen have named very strong training squad as they kick up preparations for their Caldwell Cup tilt.
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A “wish list” of sorts, the squad features a few new and a few, hopefully, returning faces, and is dominated by players from the all-conquering Pirates side and grand final combatants Narrabri.
The championships will be held in Port Macquarie on April 29 and 30, and one of of the keys to doing well, Harley said will be getting the tight five right.
“We’ve got a backline that can go against anybody,” he said.
They showed that last year.
He and Cullen were very proud of how they performed and the way they put it to Newcastle in their first game.
“It showed we’ve got the class and got the skill,” Harley said.
“What we don’t have is that same level of intensity week in week out.”
Or the size, although a few of the bigger Pirates bodies will hopefully help on that score.
They do have the backing of the zone executive to enforce participation but are hoping not to have to use that, and have tweaked the program a bit this year.
“We’re going away for a training camp,” Harley said.
It will be at Coffs Harbour following their annual Border Cup battle with Darling Downs, which will this year be played in Moree, and incorporate a game against Mid North Coast for the Coast to Country Cup.
Central North training squad: Mitchell Bath Tamworth Pirates, Doug Biffen Tamworth Pirates,Ben Carrigan Moree Bulls, Sam Collins Tamworth Pirates, Tim Collins Tamworth Pirates, Alex Corlas Moree Bulls, Jordan Cosh Moree Bulls, Henry Curtain Narrabri Blue Boars, Luke Findley Narrabri Blue Boars, Ross Fletcher Walcha Rams, Ben Goodman Tamworth Pirates, Jake Hartman Tamworth Pirates, Amos Iosa Tamworth Pirates, Henri Knight Narrabri Blue Boars, Bart Leach Tamworth Pirates, Josh Leys Gunnedah Red Devils, Jack Maunder Narrabri Blue Boars, Matt McDonnell Narrabri Blue Boars, Doug McKillop Scone Brumbies, Tom Mellor Barraba Rams, Andrew Mepham Tamworth Pirates, Cameron Mitchell Gunnedah Red Devils, Scott Mitchell Gunnedah Red Devils, Andrew Moodie Tamworth Pirates, Dominic Moran Scone Brumbies, Simon Newton Walcha Rams, Jake Packer Narrabri Blue Boars, Damian Reti Tamworth Pirates, Heath Riggs Moree Bulls, Will Robinson Barraba Rams, Matt Schwager Narrabri Blue Boars, Jack Sharpe Narrabri Blue Boars, Jack Shelton Tamworth Pirates, TobyTwigg Scone Brumbies, Tim Vaughan Narrabri Blue Boars, Matt Wannan Moree Bulls, Mitch Wheaton Tamworth Magpies.