The Riverina Bulls under 16s Andrew Johns Cup and under 18s Laurie Daley Cup teams will kick-off their 2022/23 season on Sunday with trials against the Monaro Colts in Junee.
Playing at Laurie Daley Oval, the trials will give coaches a chance to see how players fare in the representative rugby league arena.
Former coach Ben Mott, who is now managing the Riverina Bulls representative program, said both teams were coming together nicely after recent training runs.
“The 16s and 18s are developing really nicely,” Mott said.
“We have kept it pretty simple, and we are working on things like core skills and the basics.
“We are expecting a pretty good showing from both sides, and our 16s look really good, and they are a big group, but they are training really well.”
The Riverina Bulls will kick their weekend off on Saturday morning when partaking in a three-hour session with Canberra players before turning their attention to trial games on Sunday.
Both sides have a strong representation of Group 9 and Group 20 players, and all players will be training and playing hard in a bid to make the final Riverina squad that will contest the 2023 Country Championships competition.
For Tumut, Lachlan Breed and brothers Eli and Angus Williams are in the under 18s team, along with Canberra Raider, Callum Rossiter.
Gundagai product and Tumut Blue Bailey Piper will play in the under 16s.
Country Championships trial draw
Location: Laurie Daley Oval, Junee
Date: Sunday, December 11
10am: Andrew Johns Cup – Riverina v Monaro
12pm: Laurie Daley Cup: Riverina v Monaro
Laurie Daley Cup under 18s squad: Lachlan Breed (Tumut Blues), Jake Cayfe (Young Cherrypickers), Matthew Chant (Leeton Greens), Malakai Charles (Wagga Kangaroos), Angus Clark (Wagga Kangaroos), Lachlan Cole (Wagga Kangaroos), Beniel Dakunibubului (Leeton Greens), Bailey Dal Molin (Young Cherrypickers), Noah Dal Molin (Young Cherrypickers), McKinley Hamblin (Wagga Brothers), Joseph Hill (Wagga Roos), Noah Killeen (Wagga Roos), Blake McDonald (Leeton Greens), Jared McKinnon (Temora Dragons), Malakai Morris (Wagga Brothers), Wilson Nabete (Griffith Black & Whites), Tyler O’Connell (Leeton Greens), Brayden O’Reilly (Wagga Roos), Tyson Pellow (South City Bulls), Nicholas Powderly (Young Cherrypickers), Sebastian Rodet (South City Bulls), Koko Salim (Wagga Roos), Chaise Sergi (Griffith Black & Whites), Maxwell Warr (South City Bulls), Mitchell White (Wagga Brothers), Angus Williams (Tumut Blues), Eli Williams (Tumut Blues).
Raiders players: Sam Graziani (Young Cherrypickers), Elvis Nauer-Wood (Yenda Blueheelers), Tye Neason (South City Bulls), Callum Rossiter (Tumut Blues), Cody Wood (Wagga Brothers).
Coach: Matt Pike
Assistant: Damian Willis
Andrew Johns Cup under 16s squad: Cade Anderson (Leeton Greens), Xavier Peihopa-Smith (Yenda Blueheelers), William Benson (Albury Thunder), Nicholas Bett (Temora Dragons) Bodhi Brady (Yenda Blueheelers), Nic Canellis (Young Cherrypickers), Abdul Conteh (Wagga Roos), Drew Edwards (Young Cherrypickers), Samuel Fattore (Darlington Point Coleambally), Archie Gay (Temora Dragons), Josh Hackett (Junee Diesels), Oliver Hall (Cootamundra Bulldogs), Jack Harris (Albury Thunder), Mark Hills (Young Cherrypickers), Thomas Lyons (Darlington Point Coleambally), Mason Mescia (Wagga Kangaroos), Ata Jnr Misi (Griffith Black & Whites), Bailey Piper (Tumut Blues), Cody Plum (Wagga Kangaroos), Byron Price (Wagga Brothers), Preston Schultz (Wagga Kangaroos), Arthur Smith (Tumbarumba Greens), Toby Tanks (Cootamundra Bulldogs), Ben Thorton (Wagga Kangaroos), Cooper Tuilakeba (Wagga Brothers), Jai Willoughby (Cootamundra Bulldogs). Injured/monitoring; Riley Butcher (Young Cherrypickers), Harvey Campbell (Wagga Roos)
Raiders players: Kyson Freer (Leeton Greens), Hardy Glover (Young Cherrypickers), Jack Walsh (Wagga Roos
Coach: Seb Cottam
Assistant: Jayke Walker
