SELECTORS will name a 30 strong train-on squad for next year's North Coast women's rugby league side following the final round of the North Coast 11-a-side competition at Wauchope tomorrow.
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The squad will start training in January to prepare for two representative matches to be played on February 27 and March 6. This will be 13-a-side rugby league.
Group Three chief executive Mal Drury expects North Coast will field a strong side, going on the skill levels he's seen in the past seven weeks of the North Coast competition. He said Coffs Harbour has fielded a formidable team in the open women's division.
"Coffs are the only side from Group Two and they picked players from Bellingen, Sawtell and Coffs Harbour. They've been very strong,'' he said.
Mr Drury predicted at season's start that Wingham would be the big improvers in the competition. This was despite a heavy defeat by Wauchope in the opening round.
His forecast has proved correct, with Wingham now matching the better sides in the competition.
"Wauchope, with Larissa Ward and Emily Lester have also been good while Port City has Simone Smith and she leads them around the park,'' he added.
Taree Panthers fields an impressive under 17 side, with the Panthers unbeaten going into tomorrow's final round.
"It's a shame we only have five teams in the 17s. Panthers have certainly been the standout,'' he said.
An announcement on the coach for the North Coast team will made made soon.
