Coach Dean Oxley names Central West Blue Bulls squad

As Oxley gathered his squad in Dubbo on Sunday for one last training session, they did so in the presence of the Caldwell Cup trophy they won in 2019.

It's a trophy that Oxley is intent on retaining and believes that can be achieved if his Blue Bulls can have the confidence showcase their skills.

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"One thing I don't like when I see players with ability is them not having the confidence to take control of a match or a game," the Bathurst-based coach said.

"We are not a one-dimensional team, I don't coach those types of football teams. Everybody has a skill set, that's why they've been selected, and I want them to have the confidence to go out and really express that.

"The skill is how we blend all that together and make a really champion team. So when the opportunity is available, I need them to take control of that moment and not second-guess themselves."

Oxley was the man who coached the Blue Bulls to Caldwell Cup glory in 2019, the Central West outfit bettering then defending champions Illawarra 45-21 in the decider.

While COVID-19 forced the cancellation of last year's championships, it has done nothing to dull Oxley's desire to see the Blue Bulls defend that cup. They will play at the scene of their 2019 triumph - Tamworth's Scully Park.

OXLEY has searched right across the Central West zone for this year's Blue Bulls squad and has assembled a playing unit which not only features experienced talents, but emerging ones as well.

There's a number of faces from the successful 2019 unit including Bathurst Bulldogs duo Peter Fitzsimmons and Justin Mobbs, Forbes flyhalf Mahe Fangupo, the man who scored two tries in the decider in Dubbo centre Filisone Pauta plus halfback Shahid Khalfan.

Five of the six Blowes Cup clubs - Bathurst Bulldogs, Orange Emus, Orange City, Dubbo Kangaroos and Forbes Platypi - have players in the squad as do New Holland Cup clubs CSU, Parkes and Mudgee.

"We have seven country players in the starting team, I've got a couple of exciting new players who are having their debut for Central West and a couple of guys who have got some unfinished business," Oxley said.

"There's plenty of excitement in the side, we've got a younger forward pack than we had in 2019 but it shows there's opportunities there for people to step up."

SQUAD: 1. Charlie French (Forbes), 2. Charlie Henley (Emus), 3. Josh Tremain (Orange City), 4. Justin Mobbs (Bathurst), 5. Tom Macleay (Forbes), 6. Will Archer (Dubbo), 7. Cameron Stanley (Cootamundra), 8. Peter Fitzsimmons (Bathurst), 9. Shahid Khalfan (Emus), 10. Mahe Fangupo (Forbes), 11. Harry Webber (Bathurst), 12. Lachie Harris (Emus), 13. Filisone Pauta (Dubbo), 14. Adam Plummer (Bathurst), 15. Joe Nash (Dubbo), 16. Rusi Lawanikula (Forbes), 17. Lamarn Ma'a (CSU), 18. Gus Foster (Cootamundra), 19. Hamish Kaveney (Young), 20. Charlie Brown (Harden), 21. Lachy Brown (Mudgee), 22. Miniti Tonga (Forbes), 23. Luke Bevan (Parkes), 24. Sione Naufahua (Bathurst), 25. Lachlan Buckton (CSU).

HE scored the first try when Central West beat Newcastle-Hunter 36-14 in the 2014 Caldwell Cup final and in 2019 when the Blue Bulls were crowned champions once more Fangupo again crossed the stripe in the decider.

So when the 32-year-old returned to Forbes this season after spending 2020 with the Newcastle Wildfires, Oxley was keen to have him back in a Blue Bulls jumper.

He will skipper the side while Bathurst number 8 Fitzsimmons acts as his deputy.

WHILE there is talent right across Oxley's squad, there are four men in particular he is excited to see in action over the weekend.

Joe Nash, who won premierships with Parkes and Bulldogs and is now playing with the Dubbo Roos is one Oxley's keen to watch. He'll start at fullback.

"He's just come back for injury and he had an outstanding game against Bathurst a couple of weeks ago," the coach said.

"He was a Country trialist two years ago but didn't make it through to the Country squad, he's super keen to try and get that jumper. He's been a big supporter of the Blue Bulls and we'd love to see him get that reward."

Bathurst Bulldogs' winger Adam Plummer, who has scored four tries in the past fortnight, is another heading to Tamworth after a strong start to the season.

"He's in red hot form," Oxley said.

"I coached him in the Country 20s and I'm sure he'd like to translate to a Country Cockatoos jumper. He's a great example of confidence ... he's just on fire and he has to have the ball in his hands.

"Then there's Charlie Henley, Emus' hooker, he's played some representative football in Sydney prior to coming to the Central West and hasn't been available in previous years, so we're very excited about having him.

"Dubbo's Will Archer, he's also going to have his first season for the Blue Bulls and he's a damaging ball runner and we need him."

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