PREPARATIONS for the Blue Bulls’ Caldwell Cup defence will begin tomorrow with the Central West’s first trial of the 2015 season at Endeavour Oval.
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New coaches Steve Hamson and Mick Gray will run their eye over the current crop of players throughout the internal trial with the aim of naming a Blue Bulls squad to take away to the University of Wollongong next weekend to play Balmain firsts, the Central Coast and the Illawarra.
Viewed as a tournament simulation, the three-team trial next weekend will provide both Hamson and Gray with the ideal insight ahead of a tricky scheduling of this year’s country championships in May.
But first, the coaching duo need to know what they’re working with.
And, with a throng of players involved in last year’s campaign unavailable, tomorrow’s hit out at Endeavour Oval is exactly aimed at securing a new breed of Blue Bull for 2015.
“There will certainly be a few missing faces, probably a half a team from last year’s side,” Hamson said.
“But there’s plenty of quality players in the region to be able to fill those holes. The opportunity’s there for guys to come in and take a spot.”
Kicking off at 3pm in Orange, Hamson said every club had been made aware of the trial and was hopeful the likes of Dubbo Roos recruit Josh Tremain, Mudgee’s new gun Rotu Setu and Orange City players Joe Lasagavibau and Semisi Kotoa will be at Endeavour Oval.
“I’d certainly like to think so,” the premiership-winning Lions coach said.
“We’ll also be looking at Emus to supply a number of players. Being a grand final team from last year, guys like Adam Perri, he’s already played a bit of rugby this season and he’d be viewed as the number one 10 in the area at the moment.”
“We’ve been on the phone to all of our clubs and our manager John Young will continue to do so (yesterday).
“We’re close enough now to the start of the season that everyone should be thinking about footy.”
He was confident the team would be able to cover the loss of a number of Dubbo players, three of which were instrumental in both the Roos’ Blowes Clothing Cup premiership win in September and the Blue Bulls’ undefeated championship run earlier last season.
“Dubbo haven’t had the best numbers at training from what I’ve heard and they’ve lost guys like (Pete) Nau, Filisone (Pauta) and Max Ma’a Nelson, but they recruit strongly, always, and we’ll be interested to see who is at Roos this year,” he said.
“If we don’t get the numbers we want, then we’ll be more than happy to get on the phone and invite people to trial.”
The Blue Bulls trial will be at Endeavour Oval from 3pm tomorrow.