HE’S arguably Group 10’s most decorated whistle-blower, but even Nathan Blanchard admits to feeling a little bit nervous ahead of Saturday’s Group 10 All Stars versus Indigenous All Stars clash.
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Blanchard has controlled seven of the last eight Group 10 premier league deciders and has countless representative fixture appointments – including senior country championship matches – to his name in a glittering career to date.
As such, the 30-year-old was hand-picked by Group 10’s management committee to referee the inaugural All Stars game at Cowra’s Sid Kallas Oval and, despite battling nerves, he says he can’t wait to get out in the middle for the blockbuster pre-season fixture.
“I feel very excited to be a part of something as big as this,” Blanchard said.
“And being the first one, everyone’s excited and I think it’s a great thing from Group 10 to endorse and I think the guys behind it need to be applauded for their efforts.”
Blanchard predicted the clash, which will feature some of Group 10’s best players, including Lithgow coach Jono Van Veen, St Pat’s gun Garry Reilly, new CYMS prop Mitch Davis and Hawks recruits Sam Setogi and Dougie Faaiu, will have a finals-like intensity.
“I think it will have the same feel to a grand final,” he said.
“I know, like any game, each team wants to win, and Saturday’s game, both sides will be trying their best to do just that, particularly with it being the first game.
“It’s going to be a great contest, while I think both sides will have some fun with it as well.”
The Group 10 All Stars clash will be held at Cowra on Saturday.
GROUP 10: Ben McAlpine, Mitch Davis, Kyran Bubb (Orange CYMS), Sam Setogi, Dougie Faaiu (Orange Hawks), Todd Munn (Mudgee Dragons), Terawhiti Cooper (Blayney Bears), Leigh Monaghan, Jake Betts (Bathurst Panthers), Jackson Brien, Anto Wereta (Oberon Tigers), Ron Lawrence, Jack Nobes, Blake Tidswell (Cowra Magpies), Garry Reilly, Adam Morton (Bathurst St Pat’s), Keelan Bresac (Lithgow Workies);
INDIGENOUS ALL STARS: Sam Hill (Orange CYMS), Cody Robbins (Orange Hawks), Zac Adams, Andrew Warwicker (Mudgee Dragons), Will Ingram, Terry Brown, Deryne McKenzie, Alex Pettit, Casey Wallace, Josh Rainbow (Blayney Bears), Jeremy Gordon, Ben Gunn, Chris Shephard (Bathurst Panthers), Warren Williams, Aiden Craig, Ricky Whitton, K J Wood (Cowra Magpies), Tony Clovelly (Bathurst St Pat’s), Jono Van Veen (Lithgow Workies).
