NORTH Coast under-23 coach Dean Hurrell gave a simple answer when asked what Macleay’s Owen Blair will bring to his side.
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“Points,” he said.
Hurrell will hope the Port City fullback can provide North Coast with plenty of attacking spark in their representative clash with Central Coast at Macksville on Saturday.
For him to do what he did best, the coach knows his side have to win the battle in the middle first.
“If we do that, it’ll open up for Owen to do his thing,” Hurrell said.
“He probably didn’t see enough footy last week, but then he came into his own in the last 20.”
While Blair was quiet for most of the match, he still provided the match-winning play for Group 3 to sneak home over Group 2.
The coach wanted him to have his hands on the ball a bit more this Saturday.
“I don’t think he knows how good he is because he’s a pretty relaxed character and doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes,” Hurrell said.
“His talk at the back last weekend surprised me because he doesn’t usually talk that much off the field.
“I’m expecting a big game from him.”
Port City teammate Blake Wells will join Blair at the back after Taree winger Dean Mills was ruled out.
“Blake was thereabouts originally in the selection meeting that I came into late,” Hurrell said.
“He’s only 19, but he’s a very reliable player where you know what you’re going to get.”
Port Macquarie Sharks duo Mitch Smith and Mitch Wilbow will complete the Port Macquarie quartet.
Wilbow is expected to play 60 minutes off the bench at hooker.
“He played 80 minutes last weekend, but Central Coast will be stronger so we’ll need to keep him fresh,” Hurrell said.
“His kicking game from dummy half also got us out of trouble a few times and onto the front foot.”
Smith will play the majority of the match.
“Mitch is our big-minute man who will work over the middle and he’s got a good engine,” Hurrell said.
“We all know how good he is.”
North Coast under-23’s: 1. Owen Blair 2. Luke Beaumont 3. Zac Johnson 4. Dylan Hemsley 5. Blake Wells 6. Michael Hart 7. Latrell Hampton 8. Mitch Smith 9. Mitch Wilbow 10. Josh Cockbain 11. Shannon Ellem ©, 12. Jake Mullen 13. Joe Mackay 14. Riley Glover 15. Alex Bunt 16. Kobi Hugan 17. Jarrod Roberts
