Crunch time
Battle begins to defend league crown

By Rachel Irving

Air Force players battle for the ball during a selection match at RAAF Base Amberley.

Photo by LAC Andrew Eddie

IN WHAT looks set to be the encounter of the year, the Air Force Rugby League side has gone into camp waiting to defend their national title against arch rival Navy and an Army side with a hometown advantage.

The ADF championships will be held in Townsville from February 21 to 25 and this year’s competition looks set to be a cracker.

Held only three times prior, Army won the title the first year, Navy the second and Air Force in 2005.

With Army taking the home advantage, Air Force coach FSGT Aaron Smith described their side as “dangerous”.

“They will be dangerous this year. They will be playing at full strength on home ground, and after they were soundly defeated last year, they will be playing with nothing to lose,” FSGT Smith said.

Air Force will also face stiff competition from Navy, who they only narrowly defeated last year with just two points the difference and who only just defeated Air Force the year before.

Despite missing two key players due to club commitments, halfback CPL Michael Green, who won last year’s Best and Fairest award at the carnival, and front rower LAC Aiden Burke, Smith said he was confident of Air Force’s chances of defending its crown.

“If we play to the team plan, I rate our chances of winning. I’m confident we can be the first team not only to win twice but to string two years in a row together. I’ve got a good core group of players from last year’s winning team, five to six new players and a handful of players from other years. It’s a good mix of experience.”

FSGT Smith said he will be looking to the forward pack to control the game.

“CPL Aaron Power and LAC Grant Reibel are two experienced players who will be able to settle play.”

LAC Grant Reibel, an asset to the side, played for the North Queensland Cowboys before joining the Air Force.
Coach Smith has now taken the Air Force squad into camp at RAAF Base Townsville, where they will spend a week learning Air Force plays and drills.

He said, “We won’t play any trial games before the start of the competition because although it provides a good hitout for players, it also heightens the risk of injury and we want to win. We are going to Townsville to win.”

Air Force takes on Navy on February 21 and Army on February 25. Navy and Army will do battle on February 23. All games will be held at 7pm at Brothers Leagues Club Townsville and are open to the public.

Team line-up

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