Counting numbers

LISTEN UP: The Navy rugby league coach lays down the law during his team’s match against the RAAF team in Townsville.

Photo: CPL Shane Gidall

By CPL Andrew Hetherington
Volume 49, No. 3, March 9, 2006

Four Navy players have been selected in the ADF Rugby League team despite a disappointing run at the recent tri-service carnival in Townsville.

Navy’s assistant coach AB Peter Coates, was one of the players selected in the national team along with AB Jackson Cross, AB Greg Shankland and AB Damien Tenaka.
“We were all shocked and surprised at our selection and feel proud and privileged to be in the ADF team,” AB Coates said.

The ADF’s first match is in Townsville against the Brothers rugby league team and then it plays a touring British Defence Force side in April or May.

“The side then goes onto play in Adelaide in the Affiliated States Carnival in June, where we will play three games in three days,” AB Coates said.

Navy had a tough time at the recent tri-services carnival in Townsville, where injuries and players away on courses and operational commitments did not help the cause.

AB Coates said the squad for this year’s competition was selected during last year’s Patrons Cup Carnival.
“We only had seven of the original squad available to play and when we got to Townsville, we then had to go to our database and ring around to get players to be in the team.

“In the end we had players come from Cairns, Sydney and Western Australia and only had two days and three training sessions together as a team, which made the preparation quite difficult.”

Navy was competitive in its first game against Air Force and held an 8-6 lead at half-time.

“At about this time a few injuries started to kick in for a few of our players,” he said.
“We also had a few refereeing decisions that did not go our way and we had two players in the Sin Bin, so we were down to 11 players on the field, with only a couple of reserves.”

Navy went on to lose the game against Air Force 26-20 and were then outclassed by the eventual winners of the carnival, Army, in the next game 56-0.

AB Coates said all the available players had given 110 per cent.

“Due to the team only having two days to prepare together, I was really impressed with their efforts,” he said.

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