By MARK CASHMAN

Randwick will celebrate their rich Indigenous history on a special day at Coogee Oval when they take on Manly on Saturday.

The Galloping Greens have had strong links to the First Nations community with the likes of the Ella brothers – Mark, Gary and Glen – as well as Andrew Walker and Lloyd Walker all playing with some distinction for the club.

They have struck a special jersey for the first grade side for the game against the Marlins and the names of the 10 indigenous currently playing at the club will be on them.

Dylan Pietsch along with general manager Mark Harrison have pushed the special day, which will feature a smoking ceremony and the national anthem being sung in the Indigenous tongue.

Pietsch will not feature on the field but Triston Reilly will be there in the first grade side which will be hoping to continue the momentum that the side got from their big win over Sydney Uni last weekend.

“It’s been a really positive week of training so hopefully that momentum from Saturday just continues against Manly,” head coach Ben McCormack said.

“The Marlins have a big skilful pack and according to the stats their line out is ranked No.2 in the competition so they’re always providing lots of clean ball which is dangerous.

“Harley (Attwater) is quite an unconventional 10 so you always need to be on your toes.

“We need to get off to a good start again and try and drive the tempo and quality of the match.

“Looking forward to seeing Tom Molloy get a start, he was great coming off the bench for us last week while Michael McDonald has also trained well so keen to him put in a good performance with his first starting opportunity.”

Manly cannot make the finals after their loss to Eastern Suburbs last weekend but they intend to use the rest of the season well.

Head coach Matt McGoldrick spoke of the importance of developing from within at the start of the year and he has embraced that mantra.

A total of 13 of the side that runs on to Coogee Oval will have come through the Manly junior and colts pathway which is just fantastic.

Only centre Dennis Pili-Gaitau and Alex Dazell did not come through the Manly juniors and winger Harry Haywood and No.8 Hunter Ward will make their run on debuts.

“We can’t make the finals so now’s the time to have a look towards the future and start giving the young guys an opportunity,” McGoldrick said.

“The results haven’t been going our way but I am really excited about the growth that I have seen amongst our young players.”

RANDWICK (1-15):

Ruan Smith, Dave Vea, George Hendry, Nathan Den Hoedt, Tom Nowlan, Tom Piroddi, Christian Poidevin, Jeral Skleton, Michael McDonald, Ben Donaldson, Brooklyn Hardaker, Dave Horwitz, Triston Reilly, Tom Molloy, Locky Miller.

MANLY MARLINS (1-15):

Alefosio Tatola, James Hilterbrand, Conor Davidson, Max Douglas, Alex Dalzell, Van Stewart, Liam Ryan, Harry Bergelin, Adam Crear, Harley Attwater, Fraser Toohey, Dennis Pili-Gaitau, Michael Adams, Yool Yool, Jed Ibbotson.

LAST TIME: Randwick W 37-15, May 18 2019.

IMAGE: RANDWICK RUGBY