RIVERINA Bulls coach Luke Berkrey has applauded the move to return the Country Championships to an open age competition, with experienced players starved of representative football putting their hand up to play.
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A strong squad of 20 has been assembled, with a host of familiar faces from the Bulls' 2015 triumph back in the fold after the competition reverted to an under-23 format the past couple of years.
Berkrey said the response has been strong and is rapt with the amount of experience they'll have, particularly given they've copped a tough draw against Macarthur Wests Tigers at Camden on Sunday, February 28 and Illawarra-South Coast on Sunday, March 7.
"The couple of years off with it being under-23s has made some of the older guys really keen to play," Berkrey said.
"A lot of guys who have been starved of rep football for a bit have jumped at the chance and that experience will come in handy.
"I think it's a great idea. Cutting it off at 23 can be a bit harsh on some of those older guys, and certainly there's some brilliant players in our side that are over that age.
"You have a good carnival there and you never know what you may find yourself into after that.
"I've been really happy with the reaction from all the guys. I think we've only had one pull out, it's a really strong squad and one I'm pretty proud to be taking away."
Berkrey said the returns of a core group who have tasted victory in the championships before is a huge boots.
"Guy like Jack Lyons, Kyle McCarthy, James Luff, Ben Jeffery and Daniel Foley I think were all part of that team that won," he said.
"They're two really tough games, Illawarra have made a name for themselves in the competition for some time now so it will be good to test ourselves against that.
"We've certainly got some size about us, and not just the pack but in the backline as well. I think we're pretty strong across the park actually."
SQUAD: Luke Berkrey, Kodie Charles, Daniel Foley, Jake Goodwin, Derek Hay, Cody Hodge, Ben Jeffery, Uafu Lavaka, James Luff, Jack Lyons, Zac Masters, Kyle McCarthy, Connor McCauley, Dane O'Hehir, Jed Pearce, Hayden Philp, Tom Sellers, Robbie Simpson, James Smart, Royce Tout.
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