‘Show us you want it’
Selectors calling out for spots
With spots in the TRL All Stars fixture on the line and the chance to knock off a team from one of the state’s premier competitions, the Toowoomba Clydesdales are ready to bring the intensity to Warwick next month.
Fresh after the announcement of the 44-man squad that will take part in two trial matches against Brisbane Wests at Father Ranger Oval, officials are calling on players to push their case for further selection.
Representative co-ordinator Lennie Currie said the fixtures, played prior to the Brisbane Broncos’ pre-season game on February 16, were part of a wider plan to continue growing the strength of representative football in Toowoomba.
“I was asked to oversee the rep program and help to get it back on track a bit,” Currie said.
“We thought the best way was to play fair dinkum games to come up against a side like Brisbane Wests, and out of those two teams pick a side to play against the South West Emus.
“Last year we travelled down there with two teams to play them, and it finished at one game each.
“We picked two pretty even teams, and it was very clear in the second game that it was their stronger team. We’ll try to make our second side a little bit stronger this year.
“They only beat us by four points, and to know we’re not far off that standard is good.”
Currie is aware of the challenges the Brisbane Wests side will present, coming from the highly-regarded BRL, which is considered the second-best competition in Queensland behind Intrust Super Cup.
With a number of club teams being well represented, Currie said they would look to keep combinations together when splitting the squad into two sides, providing for a number of key positional matchups.
“To give everyone the best opportunities we will try to keep those that play club football in the same side,” he said.
“There’s a few from Valleys, Highfields and Wattles so they will probably stay in one side and we will try to integrate younger players in amongst them.
“The good thing with the two games is being able to see players competing for positions. There are match-ups all over the park.
“Nathan Bowering has been very good and will have a game to show us his credentials, against Ben Sullivan who made the Central Crows last year.
“We’ll be judging Travis Turnbull against the likes of Sean Loxley and Hayden Lipp, and Corey Blades wants back into the representative scene, and he’ll be looked at beside Dylan Chown.”
Currie said future representative honours were up for grabs, urging players to give it their all on February 16.