BATHURST Bulldogs and Central West Blue Bulls captain Mel Waterford will once again bring her experience to the NSW Country Corellas after being named in the 31-strong squad on Sunday.
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Waterford led a dominant Country Championships campaign in Tamworth for the Central West side, who didn't give up a single point against themselves on the way to the title, and the skipper stood tall among a talented crew.
Even after several previous campaigns with the Corellas the sensation of being named in the squad is as great as ever for Waterford.
"It's very exciting every time I get the news. I never expect it," she said.
"It gets that tiny bit easier each time you go into it and you get that extra bit less nervous when you start to think you know what you're doing a bit more."
Given the great Country Championships campaign Central West enjoyed it was no surprise to see many members of the team asked to make the next step.
Nikki D'Aquino, Kimberly Fyfe, Krystal Fyfe, Jacky Lyden, Lillyann Mason-Spice, Em McDonald, Kenesha Stevens, Sharnah Stevens and Milika Tuinakauvadra were Waterford's fellow Blue Bulls selected in the Corellas squad.
The Blue Bulls capped off the championships with a 31-0 victory over the Central Coast.
"Because the campaign went so well I think all the girls had a really good chance of getting in the squad," Waterford said.
"It's nice to have a win behind you like that when you go into rep footy. We've got good combinations and they've picked some of those combinations to go into the Country team."
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Waterford heaped praise on the selected squad, many of who she has had the opportunity to play alongside on several occasions.
"It's an exciting team. There's new girls and more experienced girls in there," she said.
"They'll look to girls like Britney Duff, from Hunter. Sharnah Stevens from West Wyalong has a couple of country games behind her now.
"There's a couple of other senior players in there who will go well, like Naomi George, and Ellie Johnson's played a couple of times. They're both from the mid north coast.
"Those girls who have been a part of the last couple of campaigns will lead by example."
The Corellas will go into a training camp later this year before the team is finalised.
Last year the country women enjoyed a breakthrough victory against the Sydney Rays and will look to build upon that success.
Because the campaign went so well I think all the girls had a really good chance of getting in the squad.
- Bulldogs and Bulls captain Mel Waterford
Bathurst's presence in the team is down from last year's team which included Waterford, Claire Woolmington, Claudia McLaren, Mandy Scott and Marita Shoulders.