HE was the man that coached the Western Rams to victory in the inaugural edition of the Andrew Johns Cup, so that Kurt Hancock is impressed by the current crop of under 16s augurs well.
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It was in 2018 that Hancock's side went through the Andrew Johns Cup undefeated, downing the Illawarra Dragons 22-10 in the decider.
The side was skippered by Jack Hartwig and featured the likes of Bathurst talents Noah Griffiths, Blake Martin and Tyler Colley plus Wellington star Rylee Blackhall - all of whom have gone on to bigger things.
Hancock is now coach of Western's under 18s Laurie Daley side, but last Sunday he cast his eye over some of the under 16s as well during their training day at Wellington.
The experienced mentor was impressed by what he saw from the young Rams hopefuls as they were tested across a pair of 90-minute sessions.
"I don't think the 16s have experienced anything like that before," he said.
"They gave some real glimpses in and around how talented that group could be.
"They are going to big, they are going to be fast, they are going to be mobile, they are going to be full of running - they were very impressive.
"It will just be a matter of them getting used to the training load, but Wooly [Tony Woolnough] is going to do a pretty good job there with them. I think they are going to be a real good side."
Amongst the Rams' current extended Andrew Johns squad, coached by Tony Woolnough, are four Saints in Jack Branda, Caleb Gunning, Riley Hancock and Regan Stait.
The quartet are all pushing for their first Rams jumper, with round one on February 6.
- ANDREW JOHNS CUP SQUAD: Demiah Ainuu (Mudgee), Cooper Black (Nyngan), Jack Branda (Bathurst St Pat's), Angus Buchan (Orange CYMS), Jamari Clarke (Narromine), Ethan Dawson (Nyngan), Caleb Gunning (Bathurst St Pat's), Riley Hancock (Bathurst St Pat's), Beau Hartley (Bloomfield Orange), Zeke Heterick (Narromine), Tulley Howell (Mudgee), Ajay Isbester (Bloomfield Orange), Lucian Jordan-Smith (Bloomfield Orange), Bailey Kennedy (Canowindra), Callan Martin (Mudgee), Jayden Paul (Cobar), Bailey Peschka (Cabonne United), Jodan Porter (St John's Dubbo), Jordi Robertson (Mudgee), Mason Rope (Nyngan), Regan Stait (Bathurst St Pat's), Oliver Thomas (Parkes Marist), Angus Thompson (Orange CYMS), Harry Wald (Bloomfield Orange), Charlie Weatgeest (Orange CYMS).
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