BRENTON Cochrane, Scott Blanch, Cody Tickle and Mitch Doring will lead Group 4 into a new era when they captain their respective sides in the new and unique Wests Entertainment Group 9s.
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The four talented players met on Sunday at Scully Park to learn the full story on how the WEG 9s will be run.
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They also learned who their team sponsors are when WEG chief executive officer Rod Laing married the captains and team sponsors up in a draw.
Tickle will head the Shay Brennan Construction side, Doring will spearhead the JT Fossey team, Cochrane spearheads the Carey's Freightlines push and Blanch skippers the Marius Street Family Dental squad.
All four captains are excited about the fast-approaching WEG 9s, which is timed to start on October 3 and run for the four Saturdays in October.
The WEG 9s final will be played October 24.
"All we need now is the players to nominate," advised Group 4 interim chairman Terry Psarakis.
He said the four captains will play an important role in not only promoting and spearheading the competition but in also attracting players to nominate in the WEG 9s.
Cochrane loves the concept.
The 36-year-old utility star will be suited by the open 9s game and is looking forward to it.
"One hundred per cent," he said of the novelty, entertainment and excitement the 9s will offer. "I love the concept, everyone is excited.
"We need to make sure everyone gets onto Group 4 and registers so we have the numbers. The sooner the better."
Players can register by emailing the Group 4 secretary Catherine Weeks on group4secretary@gmail.com.
Blanch, who captain-coached North Tamworth to a Group 4 first grade premiership last season, is also looking forward to the competition.
"It's just an exciting game, a bit of entertainment, a lot of fun," Blanch said.
"It's a bit of promotion for the game in what has been a dour year (due to the pandemic). It's going to be good getting some footie."
Tickle has been playing some footie.
The talented Werris Creek backrower has been playing for Coonamble Bears in their Group 14 competition.
"Zac Buckley is living in Coonamble now," he said of a former Werris Creek hooker and teammate. "He asked me to play."
He's hoping to take Shay Brennan Constructions to the top of the WEG 9s ladder.
"I played a bit of 9s coming through school," the 26-year-old spray painter said.
"It's a lot faster and more open (then regular footy) but you can't have too many small, fast players - otherwise the other side will roll through the ruck."
Doring, 24, might be the youngest of the quartet of captains but the talented pivot, who was going to captain-coach Manilla in this year's Group 4 second grade competition, is also made for 9s.
"[It is] going to be a lot of fun," he said. (I am) stoked to be a part of it and it's a privilege to be named a captain. It's going to be good fun."
