The Kempsey Cannonballs will look to representative duo Braden Farrawell and Tasi Afoa to lead the way when they open their first grade season against the Coffs Harbour Snappers this weekend.
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“They’ve gone away and played a higher level of footy,” coach Jared Fuller said.
“Now they’ve got to come back and it’s up to them to lead the way.”
With a bye in the first round followed by the Country Championships in Port Macquarie last weekend, the Cannonballs’ first grade season will finally get underway
Now they’ve got to come back and it’s up to them to lead.
- Cannonballs coach Jared Fuller on representative players Braden Farrawell and Tasi Afoa.
Outside of his representative pairing, Fuller said 17-year-old wingers Tyler Allen and Samuel Cole would be players to watch as they make their first grade debut.
“They’ve both been with the club for a long time, they’ve been training hard and listening really well,” Fuller said.
“They deserve their chance.”
Fuller is confident that the players involved in last year’s grand final loss to the Hastings Valley Vikings will have taken a lot from the experience.
He’s hoping that it’ll see long-term Cannonballs players hit a new gear this season.
“I’ve asked blokes like Corey Gale and Matt South to step up this year and be senior players and leaders,” Fuller said.
The Cannonballs will have to hit the ground running against a strong Coffs Harbour side which finished second in the 2016 regular season.
“It’s hard to go up there and get the win, but we’ve got some blokes who have been training since January and can't wait to get on the field,” Fuller said.
The Cannonballs reserve grade side will continue their season against the Snappers as well. They won a bruising encounter against Bowraville two weeks ago in the season opener.