Gunnedah will give another local junior a first-grade debut when teenager Charlie Lawrence steps out in Saturday's must-win clash at Werris Creek.
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He is the second first-grade debutant in as many weeks for the Bulldogs after Tommy Randall made a good debut in last Saturday's 36-22 loss to North Tamworth at Kitchener Park.
Saturday's clash at David Taylor Park is a huge game for the Bulldogs, a virtual last-chance-saloon game.
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They are six points adrift of fourth-placed Moree with four games to go.
They must beat the Magpies and hope Dungowan can upset Moree at Dungowan Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Throwing 17-year-old Lawrence into a crucial game isn't a gamble, Bulldogs coach Mick Schmiedel said, "even though it's his first year playing rugby league".
"He's been very impressive in under-18s," Schmiedel said.
"He was a little worried when I told him and is still in awe of the first graders but he'll be right. He's a little raw but will handle it. He's tough and very strong."
The Bulldogs have an extremely young side, with Lawrence joining the likes of Tommy Randall, Cain Eather, Aiden Davis, Nick White and Liam Ireland in the lineup.
They've all made their first-grade debuts this year, or last season. Add in Zac Turnbull and it makes it an extremely young side. But there are a lot of great prospects there for the next coach if they all hang around.
"Add in Lincon [Smith] and KC [Edmonds], who are only 22 or 23, and you have a good, young side," Schmiedel said.
"I thought they went well last week. [We] Just did a few things wrong. [I] hope the boys are up for it this week. Dylan Lake was great at halfback [last round] and made a major difference for us."
Gunnedah: 1 Dylan O'Brien, 2 Tommy Randall, 3 Aaron Donnelly, 4 Kih McDonald, 5 Charlie Lawrence, 6 Reece Jaeger (c), 7 Dylan Lake, 8 KC Edmonds, 9 Dylan Smith, 10 Rory Harding, 11 Zac Turnbull, 12 Nic Altmann, 13 Liam Ireland, 14 Nick White, 15 Jacko Brookman, 16 Tony Griffiths, 17 Aiden Davis. Coach: Mick Schmiedel.
Kootingal-Moonbi (For: 343. Against: 152) 18, Narrabri (258-190) 17, North Tamworth (324-211) 14, Moree (246-230) 12, Boggabri (224-328) 8, Gunnedah (257-292) 6, Dungowan (197-294) 5, Werris Creek (182-334) 4.
On Sunday, Narrabri host Kootingal-Moonbi and North Tamworth travel to Boggabri.
Manilla Tigers also head to Boggabri on Sunday for reserve grade, while Barraba host North Tamworth in second grade and league tag.
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