Cantrill has been named alongside Stu Brisbane as co-coach of the CWRU colts representative side next season and he has a strong desire to reignite a representative passion for that age group.

While the baby Blue Bulls have enjoyed success in the colts' Rowlands Cup competition in the past - they were crowned back-to-back champions in 2013-14 - there was no CWRU team in that division at this year's country titles.

That last time they played was in 2019 when running fifth.

Cantrill knows there is enough talent within the Central West to form a competitive side, and he wants those players who pull on a Blue Bulls jumper to experience what it is that makes the senior outfits so passionate about the Country Championships.

"It's one thing to play in it, but to actually enjoy that Country Week fever. They get to play against some other kids who are really talented footballers, so it gives them a realistic view of where they are at," he said.

"We'll also be tagging along with the seniors and we want to make sure they can learn off those guys as well, not just about the football, but about that Country weekend and the culture of it."

Next season the colts division at the Country Championships will be for under 19s. When Central West last played in the Rowlands Cup it was for under 20s.

Changing the age eligibility is something that has happened in the Central West competition as well. For the past two seasons it has been for under 18s, that change coming after the 2019 premiership was for under 20s.

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While the Central West has no shortage of young talents, Cantrill admitted getting the age bracket right has been difficult for colts.

"I think we've always been strong in that area with a lot of clubs and it's an area we should develop, because there are a lot of kids who come out of Year 10, 11 and 12 at school, but unfortunately now a lot of clubs can't offer colts so they go straight into a senior grade," he said.

"There are kids that are good enough to go into the senior grades, but unfortunately there are some kids that are not and we lose those kids to different sports.

"Kids that age still want to play with their mates and play against each other.

"I hope one day we can develop a variety of ages in that colts competition, so it might be a like an 18s to 20s scenario where kids can get a bit of a run. It's a very difficult question that one because the age changes continually."

As for the squad he and Brisbane will have, Cantrill knows there will be talent, but said there must also be hard work.

"There are a couple of really good kids up at Emus and Orange City and Dubbo had a really good side last year in that 17s-18s age group. So I'm just really keen to get a variety of kids from all around and that's what Central West is all about," he said.

"It definitely won't be easy and we'll have to do a lot of work to make sure we've got a competitive side."

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