RUGBY LEAGUE
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TUMBARUMBA captain-coach Simon Vanzanten (pictured) has broken with tradition by giving the Greens an historic crack at the West Wyalong Knockout next month.
In a rugby league rarity for the mountain club, Vanzanten yesterday confirmed Tumbarumba would be in the 16-team field for the $12,000 carnival on February 22 and 23.
"Tumba doesn't usually go to West Wyalong because it clashes with Tumbafest, and the club raises a fair bit of money," Vanzanten said.
"This year, however, I was really keen for the squad to play at the knockout before the pre-season competition (in March) to set us up for the season."
Amid high expectations in the town, Tumbarumba has made a series of high-profile signings and Vanzanten will unleash the quality recruits at West Wyalong.
"We'll be taking our best squad across," Vanzanten said.
"This is a great opportunity for the new guys to have a run with the team and also put their names up for the rep selection."
Chasing a first Group Nine premiership since 1997, Tumbarumba has swooped to secure boom country prop Aaron Sweeney, stylish centre Luke Smith and Kiwi powerhouse Doug Rewi to complement three exciting Fijian recruits with international credentials.
In a bonus for the Greens, the Fijian players have already been granted visas and will arrive in Tumbarumba in time to play during the Greens pre-season campaign.
For Vanzanten, the West Wyalong Knockout is a crucial element in his plan to lift the team away from he bottom of the Group Nine table.
"It's all about setting us up for the year," he said.
“We started training again last Friday and will be training twice a week from now on.
“Going to West Wyalong is a perfect way to get things started.”
Despite the sweltering weather, Vanzanten had no intention to cancel training sessions in the coming week.
“It’s usually fairly warm at West Wyalong so this will get us all acclimatised,” he said.
Tumbarumba is among five Group Nine teams nominated for the West Wyalong Knockout, joining Temora, Brothers, Southcity and Cootamundra in the 16-team competition.
Coincidentally, Simon Vanzanten’s brother Adam has been appointed co-coach of Brothers, locking the siblings into a football family feud at the famous carnival.
Adam Vanzanten and former NRL warhorse Adam Perry will share the coaching role at the Brethren, another outfit fiercely determined to make a charge up the Group Nine table this year.