AMY Barraclough is a Tiger through and through.
Author : Group 4 Rugby League
The Uralla Tiger is also the captain of the Greater Northern Tiger women’s side and leads them into a Country Championship campaign against Newcastle Maitland Region in in Cessnock on Saturday.
She’s not the only Tiger “doubling up” as Tiger men’s stars Mitch Doring (Manilla Tigers) and Daniel Hoogerwerf (Aberdeen Tigers) are also dual Tigers in 2021 along with 18th man Adam Swadling (Aberdeen Tigers).
Doring is a dynamic pivot, selected at fullback and captain-coaching his Manilla club in the Group 4 second grade competition.
Hoogerwerf will also captain-coach the Aberdeen Tigers and while a hooker will start at lock on Saturday with Swadling filling the 18th man reserve spot and playing only if there is a late injury or mishap.
Barraclough is also the GN Tiger’s skipper, a talented and smart five-eighth with a great kicking game as well as a good goalkicker.
She is confident the Tiger women can upset Newcastle despite losing their trial at Dudley to Newcastle last Saturday week.
“It was a good trial,” Amy said before Sunday’s training session at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School.
“We were a bit slow our first 20 and made some mistakes but defended well.
“Everyone got a run too (squad of 20). We do have a good mix (youth and experience) it’s just a matter of getting our combinations right. We need to work together and starts a bit better.
“Newcastle are a bit different side to last year. Their forwards are big and they have got some little, nippy quick girls on the edges”.
The Tigers have plenty of talent too with centre Shai Blackadder and lock Kate Brown impressive in the recent trial loss.
GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS :
1 Hannah Rando
2 Tanika Darcy
3 Shae Pemberton
4 Shai Blackadder
5 Sarah Byrne
6 Amy Barraclough (c)
7 Lenikki Craigie
8 Gaynor Blackadder
9 Sarah Stewart
10 Amelia Tunamena
11 Brooke Davis
12 Brooke O’Halloran
13 Kate Brown,
14 Hannah Crisp
15 Jess Baker
16 Brooke Doyle
17 Jess Morgan
18 Nautica Eather
Coach – Mick Schmiedel,
Assistant coach – Cody Tickle.
