Rugby League: Group 4 names 'team of the season'

Blues captain-coach Jake Rumsby, centre Dennis Gordon and young backrower Sam Saddler made the side while North Tamworth had four - Bailey Taylor, Tevita Peceli, Scott Blanch and Josh Schmiedel.

Group 4 Board members Pat Crowe and Mick Schmiedel came up with the original idea as part of a selection process to provide Group 4 players for next year's Greater Northern Tigers' Country Championship squad.

The two board members suggested the eight Group 4 coaches be involved and to have them name who they thought were the best players in each position.

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There was just the one proviso: "They weren't able to name players from their own club," Schmiedel explained.

The likes of Rumsby, Blanch and Moree hooker Stan Swan - received multiple votes.

"It's a strong side," Schmiedel, who will coach Gunnedah again next season, said.

"I would love to coach that side."

Rumsby thought the Team of the Season a "great concept".

"It's a nice reward for the players," he said of the selection recognition.

"I did find it very difficult selecting a side too."

He was delighted to see his Blues team-mates Gordon and Sadler selected by his seven fellow coaches.

"They both had great seasons," he told Group 4 Media.

"They both had real good years. Dennis had his first year with us and fitted in real well. Sam played hard all year, always consistent."

That the pair both finished with 11 points in the G4 B&F (equal fifth) was testament to their good seasons. Rumsby wasn't too far away either, finishing with eight B&F points.

The side bristles with attacking ability.

North Tamworth's Fijian flyer, Peceli, is on one wing and Werris Creek's Isaah Millgate on the other.

Peceli finished as leading tryscorer for the G4 season with 14 touchdowns. Moree teenager Alex Lawrence was unlucky to miss a berth.

North Tamworth fullback Bailey Taylor secured the fullback spot but young gun Trent Taylor (Dungowan) could be a reserve especially if Taylor is headed back to Group 21.

Gordon and Gunnedah tryscorer Aaron Donnelly filled the centres although Werris Creek's Kieren Williams would have been in the running too.

William's Magpie teammate Harlee Millgate might have also been unlucky to miss a berth in the halves with Bear pivot Blanch and Kootingal's Jordan Sharpe (7) the halves.

Rumsby and Dungowan utility Brett Jarrett are the props.

Jarrett's ability to play lock, second row and prop was crucial. North Tamworth's Tom Woolaston, Werris Creek's Marcus Doran, Boggabri's Nic Millar and Moree's Hayden Wiblen also had claims.

Swan deserved his spot as the hooker after a wonderful season ended him being named Group 4 Player of the Year. Kootingal's Kurt Hartmann wasn't far behind.

Josh Schmiedel and Saddler were named in the second row with the likes of Werris Creek's Cody Tickle, North Tamworth teenager Dan Kelly and Dungowan colt Cody Byrne also considered.

They could have also been in the running for the lock spot, won by Kootingal's Ben Williams.

"Ben deserved that," Cody Tickle said of the Rooster 13.

"He was enormous in attack and defence for them."

That players of the calibre of Tickle, Hartmann, Woolaston and Moree's Brenton Cochrane missed out is a testament of the strength of the nominated side.

GROUP 4 TEAM OF THE SEASON: 1 Bailey Taylor (North Tamworth), 2 Tevita Peceli (North Tamworth), 3 Dennis Gordon (Narrabri), 4 Aaron Donnelly (Gunnedah), 5 Isaah Millgate (Werris Creek), 6 Scott Blanch (North Tamworth), 7 Jordan Sharpe (Kootingal), 8 Jake Rumsby (Narrabri), 9 Stan Swan (Moree), 10 Brett Jarrett (Dungowan), 11 Josh Schmiedel (North Tamworth), 12 Sam Saddler (Narrabri), 13 Ben Williams (Kootingal).