THE official Group 2 trials are finished and what a disappointing and ordinary spectacle they were.
There was a lack of players, all games were played on a Saturday, players’ fitness (which the heat showed up), lack of referees due to misunderstanding in starting times and supporters having to pay.
Thought should go into holding a knockout competition and finding sponsors that will give the pre-season great coverage.
Winners play on and those defeated play-off for the consolation. And it should be for all three grades.
At the moment it is meaningless, but clubs still get injuries.
Bellingen has lost star back Matt Bush (broken leg) probably for the season, Nambucca’s Gary Jarrett snapped his Achilles tendon and there’s sure to be more.
Premiers on track
Sawtell Panthers are still the team to beat and are on track to go back-to-back when the Carlton Mid Group 2 competition begins on the weekend of April 10-11.
The match of the round first-up will be the local derby when Coffs Comets hosts the Panthers in what will give supporters what they have been waiting for.
Senior representative matches this year have been split in two tiers, with the strong regions playing each other.
Group 2 is in tier two2 and will compete in a knockout series starting in Inverell on May 22-23.
There will also be Country Firsts and Seconds selected for the first time in many seasons.
Another first is a women’s State of Origin between NSW and Queensland, which is sure to be popular.
Group 2’s under-18 years representative side was simply ambushed by the well-organised Group 3 and 4 teams in Tamworth last weekend.
The tri-series was used to select the Oxley Pioneers.
Group 2’s domination has disappeared over the last two years as Groups 3 and 4 get together two months in advance and have trial games/
Those efforts have paid off getting, eight players each in the Oxley side.
Congratulations to Woolgoolga pair Steve Goodwin and Mitchell Dockrey, the only two selected from Group 2.
Dockrey, picked on a wing, has been a real find in his new position.
Oxley now travels to Muswellbrook for the NSW Country championship and will play two games.
If successful the Pioneers will play in the semi-finals.
Oxley Pioneers have been in the last two NSW Country grand finals, having a 50 pr cent strike rate.
OXLEY PIONEERS SQUAD
1. Ryan Pooley (Farrer)
2. Colin Bird (Moree)
3. Matthew Allwood (Farrer)
4. Zak Aylward (Farrer)
5. Mitchell Dockrey (Woolgoolga)
6. Dylan Prestwidge (Forster)
7. Michael Henry (Old Bar)
8. Brett Antilla (Port City)
9. Cameron Rodgers (Farrer)
10. William Clarke (Taree City)
11. Heath McIlveen (Gunnedah)
12. Bradley Willis (Camden Haven)
13. Sam Power (Wingham)
14. Jamie Sampson (Farrer)
15. Jack Broughton (Farrer)
16. Jock McHatton (Farrer)
17. Matthew Georgiou (Forster)
18. Steve Goodwin (Woolgoolga)
Coach: Peter Barrett
NRL update
The salary cap has raised its ugly head again.
Why shouldn’t elite players be able to earn third-party working agreements and after 10 years with one club be excluded from the salary cap to keep players in the NRL?
Manly, after building 20-point leads in the opening two rounds only to get run down, certainly showed they can get on with it, defeating the Knights.
But who would have thought the Bulldogs could score 60 points over the previously undefeated Roosters to bring them back to earth?
How disappointing are the Eels and Broncos?
I was impressed with the Tigers, who had two hard games before their outstanding win over the Eels.
Tigers forward Garth Ellis is the best forward in the game at the minute.
Meanwhile, how good is it to watch the twins Brett and Josh?
Souths are playing like they have shackles on their legs and beating the Sharks is something they did last year, so we’ll see how they go against the Bulldogs on Easter Monday.
Expect more upsets results as teams find form.
Only three teams remain undefeated, but the Dragons are the only ones in top form.
What an Easter blockbuster - leaders Dragons travel to Melbourne. This will bring out the best of the premiers and is not to be missed.
Another danger game for the Titans (without Scott Prince, who has a broken thumb) is against the Cowboys, who the Coasters always have trouble with.
Round four NRL draw (my tips in capital letters):
Friday: STORM v Dragons (2.10pm), ROOSTERS v Broncos (8.30pm).
Saturday: Sharks v EELS (5.30pm), Cowboys v TITANS (7.30pm).
Sunday: Warriors v MANLY (2pm), Raiders v TIGERS (3pm).
Monday: Knights v PANTHERS (4pm), Rabbitohs v BULLDOGS (7pm).
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