Tuesday 14 May 2013 11:15 AM
Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL) has selected a strong representative side for next month’s Country Championship as the side attempts to bring the Country Championship crown back to Canberra for the first time since 1999.
Coach of that 1999 Championship side Jack Giddings returns to the coaching role this year and is confident that the side can end its 13 year Country Championship drought.
“I was the coach back in 1999 when we last won the Country Championship and I’m confident that we can do the job again,” said Giddings.
“It’s a good side that we’ve got and all these players deserve their spot. If you look right across the squad there is enough class and experience there to get the job done.
“There’s some real flair in the backs and the forwards are a bunch of tough, uncompromising hard workers.
“Tsai Tui played for Country last year and he’s been in great form, whilst Levi Freeman, Adam Pearce and Channon McAskill will provide some real work ethic and experience up front.
The squad has been selected from a wide range of clubs from the TTM Canberra Raiders Cup however Giddings believes that the strong nucleus of last year’s squad coupled with some exciting club combinations will hold the side in good stead.
“The Canberra Raiders Cup has good depth which is beneficial for us. There are a lot of talented players returning from last year but we’ve also selected some talented young players like Ben Picker and Carl Johnson who have both played junior grades for the Raiders.
“I think that the combination between Brophy and Johnson will work well for us. The mail I’ve got from Tuggeranong is that that combo has been terrific in the Canberra Cup so far. Johnson’s only young but he’s got good skills and good vision and our experienced players will look after him out there.”
Giddings has coached the Canberra Raiders to the Jersey Flegg premiership in 1993 and was Assistant Coach to Craig Bellamy when the Raiders won the Under 21s title in 1995.
Bringing the title back to the ACT would bring Giddings a bundle of joy and pride.
“I haven’t coached this representative side since 2004 so to bring back the title to Canberra for the first time since 1999 would bring me a great deal of pleasure and pride.
“We’re confident but we won’t be going in overconfident I can assure you that. Newcastle and Illawarra are always strong and we’ll have to be on our game early on when we face Illawarra.”
The CRRL Rep team will play Illawarra on Saturday the 1st of June in Cooma.
Full team line-up is:
1. Michael Brophy Tuggeranong Bushrangers
2. Tyler Stevens Queanbeyan Blues
3. Tim Crome Woden Valley Rams
4. Nathan Chappell Goulburn Workers Bulldogs
5. Junior Vatikani Goulburn Workers Bulldogs
6. Robbie Byatt Queanbeyan Kangaroos
7. Carl Johnson Tuggeranong Bushrangers
8. Tsai Tui Belconnen United Scholars
9. Ben Picker Goulburn Workers Bulldogs
10. Matt Holmes Queanbeyan Blues
11. Adam Pearce Queanbeyan Kangaroos
12. Levi Freeman Queanbeyan Blues
13. Josh Ayres Gungahlin Bulls
14. Channon McAskill Belconnen United Scholars
15. Sione Taka Woden Valley Rams
16. Matt Lewis Queanbeyan Kangaroos
17. Aidan Greenwood Belconnen United Scholars
Coach: Jack Giddings
The Under 18s representative team has also been selected with the side lining up as follows:
1. Matthew Heckenberg Belconnen United Scholars
2. Ben Darmody Bungendore Tigers
3. Ryan McQueen West Belconnen Warriors
4. Michael Geiger Woden Valley Rams
5. Grant Crapp Woden Valley Rams
6. Tyran Sullivan Tuggeranong Bushrangers
7. Jack Hickson Tuggeranong Bushrangers
8. Jacob Bink West Belconnen Warriors
9. Zac Woolford Queanbeyan Blues
10. Daniel Dole Queanbeyan Blues
11. David Fuka Tuggeranong Bushrangers
12. Sam Jennings-May West Belconnen Warriors
13. Charlie McKenzie Queanbeyan Blues
14. Daniel McDougall Woden Valley Rams
15. Daniel Solofa Woden Valley Rams
16. Logan Reis Belconnen United Scholars
17. John White Woden Valley Rams
18. Anthony Fookes Tuggeranong Bushrangers
Coach: David Small
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