Heading into the NSW Country Championships last month, Walcha’s Ed Cordingley hadn’t even considered the prospect of earning a Cockatoos jersey.
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After the tournament, Cordingley received a phone call from NSW Country head coach Mat Thomas informing him he had been selected in the 37-man Cockatoos training squad.
Cordingley admitted his inclusion in the initial squad came as a bit of a “shock” so you can only imagine his surprise when his name was included on the list when it was reduced to 23 on Monday.
“I had never even given it a moment's thought of any kind of selection in the first place so to go through the whole way is pretty exciting,” he said.
“I was not really expecting to get in but very thrilled.”
Pirates prop Andrew Collins shared similar sentiments about his selection.
“I’m stoked,” he said.
It means a lot to him.
Ever since his younger days coming through Pirates and watching the likes of Chris Sartori play for Country, Collins has coveted a Cockatoos jersey.
But he hadn’t really had the opportunity until now after plying his trade for virtually the last decade in Sydney with Manly.
“I wanted to play Country ever since I moved back to Tamworth. It was good to finally get the phone call from Matty (Thomas) to say I was in the 23,” he said.
It is the missing piece of the puzzle so to speak having played Country juniors and Country schoolboys, and for the Country Eagles.
The Cockatoos kick-off a shortened campaign against ACT Provincial at Camden on June 17, and will also tackle long-time rivals Queensland Country on June 30 on the Gold Coast.
“It will be good,” Collins said.
He will pack at tight head and alongside a couple of familiar faces.
“Kevin McNamara played a bit in Sydney,” he said of his likely front row partner.
“He played with Norths and I played against him a fair bit.”
Second rower Dan Ryan also played colts for the Marlins, and alongside Collins’ younger brother Tim.
He and Cordingley are among a host of players that will be making their Cockatoos debut.
In the meantime their focus will be with their respective clubs, which for Cordingley means trying to help the Rams get back into the winners circle.
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Last year’s grand finalists have lost three on-the-trot and will need to bounce back against Scone on Saturday, to keep their finals chances alive.
“I think that we have got to remember that you still have to make it to the finals so everyone has to kick into gear a bit more, probably where we are falling short,” Cordingley said.
“Everyone has forgotten the rest of the season last year, except for making the grand final.
“[We have] got to do the hard yards first.
“It is starting to get desperate for us to win a few now.
Scone have lost five of their first six matches but four of those have been by eight points or less.
While the Brumbies sit below the Rams on the table, Cordingley believes toppling them will be no easy feat.
“I haven't seen anything but from the scorelines, they have lost a few but they have all been close, tough games which is generally what you expect, they are never easy to beat,” he said.
“We are going to have to seriously pick up our act if we are going to have any chance of getting over them.”
Collins’ Pirates side are meanwhile sitting pretty at the top of the table and will be looking to make it eight from eight when they host Inverell.