RUGBY LEAGUE
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BLAYNEY Bears and Western Rams under-18 custodian Lachie Farr admitted the prospect of earning a NSW Country jumper has crossed his mind, but his priority is helping his side claim an AAMI Country Championship title first.
Farr has forced his way onto Country selectors’ radars with three dominant performances at the back for Western in their trio of preliminary wins, helping the green and whites take top spot in the southern division.
The gangly fullback scored thrice across the group stage in wins over Bidgee Bulls, Greater Southern Redbacks and Greater Southern Stingrays, but really stamped his authority defensively, so much so he’s become somewhat of a hit-man for the Rams.
As a result of Farr’s individual form and the team’s performances, they face perennial contenders Greater Northern Tigers in Saturday’s semi-final at Dubbo’s Caltex Park, kicking off at 2.40pm.
“We’re all feeling pretty confident,” Farr said.
“We’ve played really well but our coach Cameron (Greenhalgh) wants us to go up a gear on Saturday. Defensively we’ve been really good so we’re focusing a bit more on our attacking footy, working on a few things we want to put in place (against Greater Northern).
“(Personally), I set a goal to make the Rams side and anything after that will be a bonus. I have thought about making NSW Country, but helping the side win this weekend is the focus.”
The Rams will be without dominant back-rower Darby Medlyn, from Parkes, who misses the sudden-death play-off through injury, with now Bathurst Panthers star Kade Barrow - a 2015 Group 10 title-winner with Orange Hawks - coming into the starting side.
Coonabarabran Unicorn Harley Wood comes on to the bench.
“We are missing Darby but we’ve got some good players replacing him,” Farr said.
“As I said, all the boys are pretty confident. We know Greater Northern have some big boys.”
The winner of Saturday’s semi-final will take on the victory of the other final four match-up, between the Newcastle Rebels and Bidgee Bulls, in next weekend’s decider at Tamworth.
WESTERN RAMS: 1 Lachie Farr (Blayney Bears), 2 Callum Clyburn (Cowra Magpies), 3 Jai Doolan (Cowra Magpies), 4 Mitchell Andrews (Forbes Magpies), 5 Warren Baxter (Forbes Magpies), 6 Adam Fearnley (Bathurst Panthers), 7 Joseph Dwyer (Parkes Spacemen), 8 Izaac Scott (Forbes Magpies), 9 Rick Nobes (Cowra Magpies), 10 Brad Gaut (Parkes Spacemen), 11 Luke Gale (Dubbo Macquarie), 12 Kade Barrow (Bathurst Panthers), 13 Clayton Couley (Nyngan Tigers); Bench: 14 Jack Beasley (Mudgee Dragons) 15 Bayden Searle (Dubbo CYMS), 16 John Ciappara (Dubbo Macquarie), 17 Craig Tarr (Orange CYMS), 18 Harley Wood (Coonabarabran Unicorns)