The NSW Country Cockatoos team to play NSW Subbies has been announced ahead of this weekend’s clash at Camden.

The team boasts a mix of youth and experience with a number of new faces set to play alongside former Super Rugby flanker AJ Gilbert and NSW Country NRC forward Pauli Tuala.

The clash will be the seventh match between NSW Country and NSW Subbies with both sides winning the Maher/Ross Cup on three previous occasions.

A wider playing squad was selected following the NSW Country Championships in late April and was trimmed down to 23 after a camp in Singleton in May.

NSW Country coach Mat Thomas said he was excited to name a number of new players in the squad.

“The coaches feel we’ve found a great balance with new additions and some experienced Cockatoos players returninglike Ben Damon at fullback and Illawarra backrower Paul Tuala,” Thomas said.

“We will also look to have a massive impact off the bench from AJ Gilbert, who brings an unbelievable ability to read the game and seemingly appear everywhere around the field.

“It is evident that there is a new energy in the squad with a lots of new faces and we’ll look to transfer that energy into our style of play against Subbies.

“The team boasts a very strong tight five, which have great set piece ability, a dynamic back row and some genuine pace in the backs, so we will utilise these strengths and look to play accordingly.

“The Newcastle/ Hunter 8, 9 and 10 combination of Travis Brooke, Jono O’Toole and Dan Sherratt will provide a lot of direction and stability considering we have had only one training session.

“The opportunity for the boys to play in a genuine City vs NSW Country fixture is really exciting for the players and I know they truly relish it.”

NSW Country Cockatoos team to play NSW Subbies:

1. Charlie FRENCH Central West/Forbes
2. Bleddyn GANT Mid North Coast/Port Macquarie
3. Jesse ROCHE Illawarra/Woonona Shamrocks
4. Andy RAE Illawarra/Wollongong University
5. Nathan BRENNAN Newcastle Hunter/Singleton
6. Leighton COWLEY Illawarra/Kiama
7. Paul TUALA Illawarra/Wollongong University
8. Travis BROOKE Newcastle Hunter/Maitland
9. Jono O’TOOLE Newcastle Hunter/Maitland
10. Dane SHERRATT Newcastle Hunter/Waratahs
11. Sireli BAINIVALU Newcastle Hunter/Hamilton
12. Adrian DELORE Newcastle Hunter/Southern Beaches
13. Pat KEEN Central North/Walcha
14. Henry YUILL Illawarra/Bowral
15. Ben DAMEN Far North Coast/Wollongbar Alstonville
16. Ethan MCINNES Central Coast/Terrigal
17. Andy PAPWORTH Illawarra/Wollongong University
18.Kevin MCNAMARA Central Coast/Warnervale
19. Dan RYAN Central West/Parkes
20. AJ GILBERT Mid North Coast/Southern Cross University
21. Tom SAWDEN Illawarra/Wollongong Vikings
22. Jack ARTHUR New England/Armidale
23. Grant KNIGHT Far North Coast/Ballina

Coach: Mat Thomas
Assistant Coaches: Paul Jeffrey & Shaun McCready
Manager: Matt Waterford
Assistant Manager: Scott McKellar
Doctor: David Cannon
Physio: Ben Mahon