EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the first ever Jack Woolaston nines competition in Tamworth on Saturday.
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Teams from as far away as Moree and Newcastle are set to battle it out with sides from across Group 4, in the shortened format at Jack Woolaston Oval.
Helping spearhead the inaugural tournament, Jack Woolaston told the Leader he was expecting an entertaining day for fans of rugby league.
"It should really be a wonderful day," Woolaston said.
"We have 14 teams taking part and I think they will all be very competitive."
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North Tamworth and Narrabri will both enter two teams in the competition, while Manilla will see their first action since the end of the 2017 season.
"The fast pace of the nines format should really be entertaining for the spectators," Woolaston said.
"There is also other entertainment on the day as well, for instance when people collect their souvenir record at the gate they go into the draw to win some money.
"So there's going to be something for everyone."
New Gunnedah Bulldogs head coach John Hickey said his club would be along to support the event.
"For our guys it will be a good chance to have a hit out," Hickey said.
"I think from an overall club perspective, it is really good for us to support Group 4 in helping put these things on for all of us to enjoy."
Saturday's competition will be the first time a Bulldogs outfit will take the field since Hickey took over as coach late last year.
"Our pre-season has been coming along really well so far," he said.
"We have seen a really good buy in from our players and the leadership group, who have really been leading the pre-season sessions, have done an excellent job.
"No doubt we are looking forward to the season ahead."
North Tamworth Bears coach Scott Blanch said the event would be "a big day for the club".
"We as a club are really looking forward to the nines competition," Blanch said.
"I know the guys in the two teams we have competing are really keen to get some match practice under their belt.
"Our guys have been doing quite a lot of training so far this pre-season and while that is great, there really is nothing better than getting some match fitness.
The inaugural competition will conclude with a final, which will be played under the recently installed new lights at Jack Woolaston Oval.
The day's action kicks off at 10.30am when North Tamworth takes on Dungowan.
After the conclusion of the tournament games, each team will enter a runner into a footrace competition, followed by the tournament final from 7pm.
Competing clubs:
- North Tamworth
- Dungowan
- Gunnedah
- Barraba
- Narrabri
- Newcastle University Seahorses
- Boggabri
- Werris Creek
- Manilla
- Moree Boars
- Moonbi-Kootingal
- South West Robins
