Kurt Hancock is pretty adamant no side in this year’s Andrew Johns Cup is capable of running with his Western outfit when the Rams’ attack is in full flight.
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And there’s two players helping supercharge that potency.
Halves Noah Griffiths and Rylee Blackhall might get most of the plaudits, but hookers Josh Dominello and Elijah Colliss touch the ball more than any players in green and white.
Both have been stars for the Rams so far in an undefeated under 16s country championship campaign heading into Saturday’s clash with Monaro at Harden.
Dominello and Colliss will interchange during the initial stages of the match before appearing together on the field late in the game.
It’s a one-two punch that’s given Western a lethal edge in attack, one Dominello says he’s grown to relish being part of.
“It’s been really good, Hank (coach Kurt Hancock) talked to me an Lij about two on the field at a time and initially I wasn’t sure how it would go but it’s worked well,” the Orange CYMS rake said, Western three wins from three starts.
“What we wanted to do was skittle the defence and get the opposition on the back foot. It’s been successful so far.”
Colliss, a star with Wellington in the junior ranks, is confident if Western continues to focus on its own strengths, a fourth win is on the offering at Harden.
“We’ve been pretty good this year and dominating in the forwards, which has helped,” he said.
“I’ve been surprised at how well we’ve clicked to start with because we’re not used to playing as full team.
“If we just play our own game and stick to what we do well then we’ll be fine.”
Western takes on Monaro from 11.30am at Roberts Park, Harden.
- WESTERN 16s: 1 Tyler Colley (Bathurst St Pat’s), 2 Aiden Nunn (Blayney Bears), 3 Noah Ryan (Dubbo St Johns), 4 Mason Pollack (Orange Bloomfield), 5 Cooper Monk (Orange CYMS), 6 Rylee Blackhall (Wellington Cowboys), 7 Noah Griffith (C) (Bathurst Panthers), 8 Harry Sullivan (Oberon Tigers), 9 Josh Dominello (Orange CYMS), 10 Marlin Pollack (Orange Bloomfield), 11 Blake Martin (Bathurst St Pat’s), 12 Jack Hartwig (Forbes Magpies), 13 Jack Smith (Red Bend Catholic College); Bench: 14 Elijah Colliss (Wellington Cowboys), 15 Charlie Holman (Bourke Warriors), 16 Jayden Fisher (Bathurst St Pats), 17 Cody Crisp (Parkes Spaceman), 18 Rowan Hamer (Bathurst Panthers).