Bullpups to bid for grand finals

By Ron McLean | September 3, 2010

Gunnedah's rampaging under 16 and under 18 teams will bid for grand-final berths in the Group 4 rugby league major semi-finals at Scully Park, West Tamworth, on Sunday.

Gunnedah has been far and away the dominant club in the junior grades in the last six years and both teams are clear-cut favourites after claiming the minor premierships in 2010.

The only hiccough in recent years came in 2008 when both teams were beaten on grand-final day.

But the slate was erased emphatically in 2009 when the Bullpups won both competitions.

Pacesetters all season, the Bullpups need to be wary of complacency as they prepare for Sunday’s major semi-finals.

The under 16s will play West Tamworth at 10.30am and the under 18s will go in against Moree at 1.15pm.

The under 16s were beaten on the bell by Wests at Kitchener Park but had five players out on representative duty that day.

Coach Phil Donnelly says his team has run into excellent form over the last month to six weeks but he warned them not to think that they have the game under control.

“You have to go out there and win it. You have to keep your mind on the job,” he said.

Donnelly named his run-on side as – 1 Jordy Travis, 2 James Donnelly, 3 Josh Keynes, 4 Andrew Endicott, 5 James Mapperson 6 Casey Burgess, 7 DJ Smith, 8 Matt Avendano, 9 Chris Rolinson, 10 Sam Zelinski, 11 Ryan Gunning, 12 Aaron Hobden, 13 Keegan Loughrey.

Donnelly will have six players on the bench, among them Ethan Stevens, Dylan Winsor and Chance Burgess.

The Bullpups have strength right across the park – the forwards are all willing workers and draw their go-forward from livewire dummy half Chris Rolinson.

Lock Keegan Loughrey is a talented player and halves Casey Burgess and DJ Smith are sharp.

If anything, the under 18s have an even firmer grip on a grand-final berth.

Coach James Gallen says his team has hit top gear at the right time of the season.

“It’s a strong side – willing forwards, with plenty of pace and strength, and a slick backline.

“We don’t expect it to be easy – Moree beat us by two points in the second round, if in controversial circumstances, and they’re such a hot-and-cold side, they can hurt you if they get a roll-on.

The return of Heath McIlveen to the squad is a huge confidence-booster for the Bullpups.

One of the most promising forwards Gunnedah has produced in a long while, McIlveen has been battling a hamstring tear all season.

He played his first game a few weeks ago against Norths, producing some of his trademark bursts and heavy front-on tackling.

McIlveen will come off the bench on Sunday.

The Bullpups have rising stars who were called up to first grade through the season – and handled the task well.

Anthony Williams, Andrew Cameron, Kyle Newcombe, Brenton Lumby and Matt Baker all played several matches in first grade.
Brenton Lumby was the first-grade players’ player against Wee Waa.

Coach Gallen has named his starting 13 as – 1 Hayden Jaeger, 2 Jake Vigor, 3 Brandon Hall, 4 Anthony Williams, 5 Bryce Johnston, 6 Billy Winsor, 7 Jayde Campbell, 8 Andrew Cameron, 9 Boyde Campbell, 10 Kyle Newcombe, 11 Brenton Lumby, 12 Chad McDonald, 13 Matt Baker.

A very strong bench will comprise Heath McIlveen, Toby Noble, Jabe Northey, Toby Beard, Tim Brown, James Naylor-Hay and Josh Mapperson.