THE structure of the New South Wales Country program may have undergone plenty of changes since Dean Oxley last lined up for the Central West Blue Bulls, but the player turned coach still sees it as vital to the region.
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Oxley was a member of the Central West outfit which won the 1996 Caldwell Cup, while this year he coached the Blue Bulls outfit which fell one win short of being crowned the Country Championships victor.
It means he knows firsthand the importance of strong performances at the annual titles. It is about more than hoisting a trophy or upsetting other zones, it is about giving talented players a pathway to higher representative levels.
“The Central West is a proud zone, we are up against the might of Newcastle and Illawarra and we’ve got excuses as to why they have it easier than us, but in the end we have to step up,” Oxley said.
“That’s what has to happen and hopefully we can continue to do that.
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“It gives the boys a viable path to [NSW] Country and even if Country doesn’t lead to New South Wales like it did years and years ago when James Grant was playing Country, it does lead to the exposure that allows the players to play at that higher level.
“They can then maybe look at where they want to go from there. So I think it’s really important, even just as a reward for good club footballers who then get a chance to get together at those carnivals.”
This season the Central West opens side and colts both qualified for the final of their respective Country Championships. The Blue Bulls pushed Illawarra before going down 37-17 in the Caldwell Cup decider and the colts fell 53-10 to Newcastle-Hunter in the Rowlands Cup final.
On top of that the women’s side – the Blue Bullettes – placed third at their respective Country Championships which featured a round-robin format.
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It led to a host of players going on to wear NSW Country Cockatoos and Corellas jumpers – a trend Oxley wants to continue.
As well as being excited about working with the talent in the region, Oxley praised the efforts Central West chief executive officer Matt Tink in promoting the sport.
Tink has set up a tour to New Zealand next March for Central West’s leading male and female talents. It will involves playing two games and training with Canterbury Crusaders staff.
“From the moment he’s started he has been engaged in all facets of rugby in the Central West and that’s why it’s exciting to be a part of it,” Oxley said. “The added interest and exposure the game got this year was fantastic.”
