CENTRAL West is gunning for its second consecutive NSW Country Championship title in Bowral this weekend, and if the Blue Bulls are to win back-to-back Caldwell Cups there’s a big chance it will be on the back of their powerful front row rotation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With several stars from 2014’s successful campaign missing, props Nas Havealeta and Darcy Garlick will make their Blue Bulls debuts on Saturday in Central West’s tournament opener against Illawarra.
Havealeta, Orange Emus’ wrecking ball, forms a formidable starting front row with hooker Josh Tremain and loosehead prop George Quigley, while Garlick, one of Orange City’s big men, is one of the Blue Bulls’ robust reserve front-rowers, alongside Lions teammate Chris Senior, Grant Lowe and David Birch.
“We’re props, so scrums are our first priority,” Garlick said.
“Should we even worry about anything else?”
“I’d rather be a five-eighth,” Havealeta chortled.
Havealeta and Garlick, affectionately known as Nasty and Bull respectively, agreed despite Central West’s new-look side, the Blue Bulls remain a massive chance of earning the right to be called the best team in NSW country for the second straight year.
“You’ve always go to have faith,” Garlick said.
“We had a full squad at training last weekend, and we finished very positively, so I think we can.”
“There’s a little bit of pressure (after last year’s win), but not really,” Havealeta added.
Central West takes on Illawarra at Bowral’s Eldridge Park on Saturday, with the winner of the Blue Bulls’ game to take on the victor of Central Coast and Newcastle-Hunter’s clash in the final on Sunday.
“From my experience (Illawarra) are normally pretty strong,” Garlick said.
“We used to play them in trial matches when I was at (Canberra Premier Rugby side) Wests, and they were always pretty tough and I know they won their most recent trial.”
“I’ve never played at this level, so I don’t really know what to expect,” Havealeta said.
“I think we just need to lift our intensity, and play hard footy,”
Central West boasted a total of 11 players in the preliminary NSW Country Cockatoos squad, and while they didn’t say selection was a goal, the duo conceded if the results are on the board and their form is good, anything can happen.
“Like any representative situation you want to give yourself a chance, so it’s just about going down and having a real crack,” Garlick said.
“Even if we don’t make it, we’ll just find the coach and make him give us a shirt,” Havealeta giggled.
CENTRAL WEST: 1 George Quigley (Trangie), 2 Josh Tremain (Dubbo Kangaroos), 3 Nas Havealeta (Orange Emus), 4 Dan Ryan (Parkes), 5 John Korff (Dubbo Kangaroos), 6 Keith Howarth (Orange Emus), 7 Duncan Young (Orange City), 8 Ben Ryan (Parkes), 9 Aaron Payne (Dubbo Kangaroos), 10 Adam Perri (Orange Emus), 11 Tom Green (Orange Emus), 12 Mesui Lemoto (Orange City), 13 Moavaku Kaeaefiafi (Dubbo Kangaroos), 14 Cameron Cole (Orange City), 15 Josefa Lasagavibau (Orange City); 16 Darcy Garlick (Orange City), 17 Grant Lowe (Parkes), 18 Chris Senior (Orange City), 19 Mitch Pearce (Orange City), 20 Sam Coote (Orange City), 21 Rota Setu (Mudgee), 22 Tom Nell (Orange City), 23 David Birch (Mudgee), 24 Justin Schick (Dubbo Kangaroos), 25 Jack Marchinton (Orange Emus).