RUGBY
LEAGUE
By
Graham Davis and Michael Weaver
The
RAN Rugby League committee has praised one of its players
currently trialling with the West Tigers in the National
Rugby League competition.
LSET
Chris Bohan, a RAN Rugby League and RAN Rugby Union fullback,
has just completed gruelling offseason training with the
Balmain Tigers Premier League and Jim Beam squads.
“Chris
was invited to train with the squad after being selected
from 60 hopefuls at a Tim Sheens Wests Tigers Open trial
held at Leichardt Oval last October,” said RANRL president
LCDR Sion Griffiths.
“Chris
is currently in the midst of further trials against Easts,
Souths, Newtown and the Central Coast to determine teams
for the 2004 season.
“We
wish him all the best for the remaining trials and 2004
season,” LCDR Griffiths said.
|
The
RAN’s rugby league side believes it has the weaponry to blow away
the Army and RAAF sides at this year’s ADF National Interservice
Rugby League Carnival at Newcastle from March 6-10.
Navy coach LEUT David Wallis said the squad is still being finalised,
but a much more professional approach will see Navy surprise the
cocky Army side, which won the inaugural interservice carnival
last year.
“Last year whoever showed up got a run, while this year we’ve
got a bit more of a player pool to pick from,” LEUT Wallis said.
“We’ve lost of few clearance divers and that’s a bit of a shame,
but overall we’ve got a good program in place with a week-long
camp before the tournament. We’re giving the players shirts, shorts,
caps and kit bags thanks to a good committee that’s worked really
well together.
“We know the Army will always be hard to beat due to their fitness
and I don’t think the RAAF will have much of a side, so we definitely
want to win it and we’ll be in there giving our best shot.”
LEUT
Wallis also knows despite the Army’s fitness, they are still beatable
on the day. “I don’t think their skill level is a lot better than
ours, but definitely their fitness is.
You’ve got a few SAS blokes in there and others that just run
around in the bush all day, but they still have to match our skill
level and heart.”
LEUT Wallis said Navy rugby league has also been buoyed by a tour
to Fiji and New Zealand in July this year, which is attracting
quality players to the fold. “We’ve got a young bloke from Harman
who shows plenty of promise, plus a 20-year-old second-rower who’s
played first grade in Wagga.
There’s also Michael Cross, who played a few first grade games
for the Illawarra Steelers before joining the Navy.” President
of RAN Rugby League LCDR Sion Griffiths told Navy News that the
program for RAN players begins with trials at HMAS Albatross on
Thursday, February 26.
“Any player who was unavailable for selection during the Patron’s
Cup and would like to trial, should contact coach LEUT David Wallis
on 0412-170 510 or david.wallis3@defence.gov.au
for further details,” LCDR Griffiths said.
A trial game will then be played at Berry Showground from 5pm
on Saturday, February 28 against a combined universities side
(University of NSW and University of Western Sydney). “On completion
of the trials the players will return to Sydney on their way to
Newcastle to meet with sponsors, ATSA and Thales,” LCDR Griffiths
said.
Ferris Ashton, a former RAN Marine Technician who played with
Eastern Suburbs and Australia, and Eric Cox, will present them
with their jerseys.
The RAN side will play two games at Breakers Stadium in Newcastle
as part of the ADF Interservice carnival.
The first will be against the RAAF at 6pm on Saturday, March 6
and the next against the Army at 6pm on Monday, March 8.
The Combined Armed Services selections for 2004 will be announced
at the carnival dinner and presentation evening set for Wednesday,
March 10.
