NRC season preview: NSW Country Eagles

Sat, Sep 2, 2017, 11:44 PM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
They were the most dominant team in the 2016 edition of the NRC but the NSW Country Eagles ultimately fell short against Perth Spirit in the grand final. With most of the squad intact, the side is hoping to go one better this time around.

The theory is you need to lose one to win one, and the NSW Country Eagles will be testing that hypothesis in 2017.

After falling one win short of the title last season, the Eagles still look like a threatening side ahead of their opening clash this season.

As well as having a handful of Waratahs, their club contingent proved crucial last year and again they have grabbed hold of some of the most impressive Shute Shield players going around.


SQUAD

PROPS

Sam Needs

Harry Johnson-Holmes

Paddy Ryan

Cameron Betham

Matt Gibbon

HOOKERS

Conal McInerney

Brandon Amosa

Tolu Latu

LOCKS

Ryan McCauley

Lochie Swinton

Tim Buchanan

Tom Staniforth

Rohan O’Regan

BACKROW

Nick Kellaway

Pat McCutcheon

Maclean Jones

Rowan Perry

Sam Ward

SCRUMHALVES

Jake Gordon

Mitch Short

FLYHALVES

Tayler Adams

CENTRE

Kyle Godwin

Tom Hill

Seb Wileman

Tyson Davis

OUTSIDE BACKS

Lachie Anderson

Andrew Kellaway

Alex Gibbon

Christian Kagiassis

Henry Clunies-Ross

Alex Newsome

WALLABIES

Tom Robertson

Ned Hanigan

Kurtley Beale

Sekope Kepu

Bernard Foley

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?

The Eagles dominated for most of the 2016 season, earning the right to host the Perth Spirit in Tamworth in the final, a spot close to many of their hearts.

It wasn’t to be in the end, though, with the Country team falling at the final hurdle in a thrilling conclusion to the season.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER

He’s no big-name Wallabies star but Tayler Adams has plenty of responsibility in this Eagles outfit, and as its only specialist flyhalf, he looms as crucial to their year. Adams had a standout year in the Shute Shield, winning the Ken Catchpole Medal as the best player in the competition. Coach Darren Coleman has handed him a huge show of faith. If he can repay that, Australia’s flyhalf stocks might add another to their crew.

BOLTER


Alex Newsome is back in his home state and the former Force outside back will bring some X-factor to the Eagles, in an already relatively stacked backline. Newsome showed some sensational finishing skills in Super Rugby and if he can replicate those, he’ll be racking up the points.

Sam Ward has had an impressive season with Warringah, amid incredible family hardship, and will be one to watch as well.

PREDICTION

The NSW Country Eagles were the best side for most of 2016 and they’ll be hard to stop again in 2017, with another impressive lineup.

They'll have a target on their back this season and how they handle that will be the ultimate proof of their championship credentials.

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