After a nigh on complete performance to wrap up the group stage of the 2017 under 18s Country Championship, Western coach Cameron Greenhalgh is demanding more of the same from his Rams side on Saturday.
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The green and whites take on Greater Northern Tigers in their semi-final clash at Carrington Park, the winner set to meet either Newcastle or the Greater Southern Stingrays in the final.
And Greenhalgh believes after a 24-4 win over Bidgee in the final round at Parkes, Western will need to produce a similar performance against the Tigers to progress to the decider, a final berth that would mark two championship grand finals in two seasons for Greenhalgh as coach of the Rams under 18s.
I can’t fault the effort of any of our fowards. They’ve been great and our speed out wide benefits from the work they’ve been doing.
- Rams under 18s coach Cameron Greenhalgh
The leap in form is in stark contrast to the performance Greenhalgh’s side produced against a Parramatta Eels SG Ball development squad in February, the coach firing a rocket at his players after a lackluster effort at Blayney.
“We’ve just gelled a bit better since then,” Greenhalgh said after blasting a “less than impressive” showing against the Eels in the trial.
“We hadn’t had a lot of time together before that Parramatta game. We picked the squad and then really upped the ante training-wise.
“We were right on with our attack in that first week (against the Stingrays), then with our defence in the second as we clawed out way back (against the Redbacks), and it was a mixture of both that got us home last week against Bidgee.
“We'll need an improved effort against the Tigers though. They’re a formidable side.”
Greenhalgh’s outfit is inexperienced outwide, but the Rams’ strength rests with its pack.
The likes of Clayton Couley, Luke Gale and Darby Medlyn have been immense in the backrow, while props Riley Cheshire and Joey Hobby tireless up front.
It’s allowed the likes of Dubbo’s gun halve pairing of Matt Burton and Bayden Searle to guide the side around the park, with gun fullback Charlie Staines then able to use his blistering speed breakdown opposition defences.
Greenhalgh has been full of praise for his pack all championship and believes his two halves have come a long way this campaign too.
“I can’t fault the effort of any of our fowards. They’ve been great and our speed out wide benefits from the work they’ve been doing.”
Western kicks off its semi-final at 2.10pm. Newcastle plays the Redbacks in the other semi from 11.20am.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
