BEN’S PLAN FOR TIGERS

NEW Cricket Tasmania talent manager Ben Rohrer says he may be playing for the Sydney Thunder but his focus is on developing the next bunch of local stars.

Rohrer, 36, is on the last year of his BBL contract with the Thunder, but says there is no conflict of interest with his playing position and his new role at Blundstone Arena, especially when it comes to the Hobart Hurricanes.

“There are no Hurricanes meetings I’ve been involved in or witnessed yet,” Rohrer said. “At the moment from where I’m sitting it has all been Tigers, Roar and WBBL stuff. It hasn’t come up yet.

“I’m still going to play for the Thunder this year, so [I’m] not going to have any involvement with the Hurricanes this year. Hopefully down the track I will.”

He played 55 first-class and 47 50over games for NSW and said while his No.1 role was to help identify and develop Tasmanian talent, there would be interstate recruits to allow the locals to blossom. “That has got to be No.1,” he said. “Importing people in just for short-term gaps isn’t the answer.

“We want to really develop these guys who are going to be 10 year plus players for Tasmania and play for Australia and become role models.

“That is one of the main goals we’ve been speaking to them about, not just being happy being first-class cricketers, we want them to play for Australia.”