Greater Northern's quartet of representative teams are preparing for a massive home round at Farrer Memorial Agricultural School's John Simpson Oval on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Tigers - under 16s, under 18s, men and women - play the Western Rams in Country Championship matches kicking off from 10am with the Brett Jarrett-coached 16s side.
While the Tigers cannot make the semis they are determined to finish their Andrew Johns Cup championship season with a win after threatening in three of their four losses.
The Darryl Rando-coached 18s side can make the semi-finals of the Laurie Daley Cup but will have to do so without talented Singleton hooker Harry Reid.
READ ALSO:
Reid was injured in the first half of last Saturday's 20-18 win over Newcastle Maitland Region in Cessnock.
Coach Darryl Rando has named Ned Chapman at hooker and believes the side can play much better than it has. The Tigers have interspersed some great team play with some ordinary defence and costly errors.
While they are chasing a semi-final berth the Brad McManus-coached Tiger men can earn a semi-final berth in their Country Championship clash with the Western Rams which kicks off around 1pm.
The Tigers will be without Singleton captain-coach Jake Hawkins, who was one of many stars for the Tigers.
Hawkins, who played hooker Saturday, has been suspended for two games after being reported twice and sin-binned in last Saturday's 34-12 win over Newcastle Maitland Knights at Cessnock.
"Jake got two weeks," McManus said.
"So we've moved Daniel Hoogerwerf to hooker and Adam Swadling comes back in to the side at prop. That will give us a bit of size."
Swadling's addition enables Brady Benkovic to move back into the second row and Jayden Rosberg back onto the bench.
"We'll finalise the team Friday," McManus said.
"Western are going to be tough. I watched their game against Monaro on Sunday. They are a bit like us, don't have a big forward pack but they have a go."
The Mick Schmiedel-coached Tigers women are coming off a demoralising 26-0 loss to the Newcastle Maitland Knights.
"We'll have the same 18 but there will be a number of positional changes," Schmiedel said.
"Nautica Eather will come into the 17 somewhere.
"Individually we weren't terrible last Saturday but collectively we were.
"We've just got to give credit to Newcastle, the speed and intensity they played with was similar to how we played last year (unbeaten in two games).
"We are a little behind where we were last year and I must take part of the blame for that.
"I could have prepared them a little bit better."
GREATER NORTHERN TIGER UNDER 16s: 1 Riley Pennell, 2 Drewe Gilbert, 3 Tully Wholert, 4 Ryan Witherdin, 5 Jacob Cordina, 6 Charlie Henderson, 7 Callum Dowell, 8 Matthew Ross, 9 Talon Harrington, 10 Sebastian Lawler, 11 Gabriel Stafa, 12 Logan Spinks, 13 Brady Roser, 14 Jeremiah West, 15 Nathaniel Folington, 16 Lachlan Bonnell, 17 Jasper Thistle, 18 William Milsom. Coach - Bret Jarrett.
GREATER NORTHERN TIGER UNDER 18s: 1 Mitchell Henderson, 2 Billy Youman, 3 Blake Johnston, 4 Corben Hampstead, 5 Alex Lawrence, 6 Ethan Antzakles, 7 Pichai Dixon, 8 Mark Simon, 9 Ned Chapman, 10 Jake Clydsdale, 11 Luke Smith, 12 Hayden Bull, 13 Sam Fechner, 14 Jesse Cadalbert, 15 Joash Boney, 16 Daniel McMillan, 17 Charlie Parsons, 18 Dylan Smith. Coach - Darryl Rando.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark NVI
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News