If it seems like the Country Championship season has come around faster than usual, that’s because it has.
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The team selections for the 2019 were announced by Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL) earlier in the month, and Goulburn boasted significant representation throughout the senior teams.
Goulburn’s Nic Cornish, Tyson Greendwood, and Connor Brebner were selected for the Monaro Colts Under 23’s squad, while Elly Hazleton, Sassie Economos, Jennaya Ottaway, Jasmine Tooth and Pearl Rakete were selected to the Monaro Colts Women’s Squad.
Such heavy representation is unsurprising, as all three men were selected for the same side earlier this year, while the women were all a part of the Katrina Fanning Shield-winning Stockmen side.
The teams have been announced significantly earlier than usual for the 2019 competition, which is due to a push to have the Country Championship finished before the regular season begins.
Bulldogs second-rower Tyson Greenwood said “I think that’s a good thing, because we can play our club footy as well.
“A lot of clubs in the Canberra region were affected by all their rep players [being recruited mid-season].”
All three of the Bulldogs players in the Under 23 side have played for Monaro previously, and Cornish said that this experience will help them take on more senior roles in the side in 2019.
“We all know what it’s about now, me, Tyson and Brebs [Brebner],” he said.
“[Our role is] probably just to guide and make sure everyone knows what it’s about. Like, we’re there to play footy and learn and have fun, but we’re there to win. That’s the main goal.”
The Monaro Under 23’s will recruit a new coach this year, who has not yet been confirmed. The team spent the last two years under the guidance of Ash Barnes, and Cornish said that he will be difficult to replace as he was “a real good coach.”
Dates have not been confirmed for next year’s championship, however it is expected to begin around the end of February or start of March in a round robin format, as opposed to the knockout format in previous editions.
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