Glen Innes duo Sarah Byrne and Amelia Tunamena have earned starting spots in the Greater Northern Tigers women's team who begin their Country Championships campaign this Saturday.
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Byrne has been named on the wing while Tunamena will line up in the front row.
Selecting a Greater Northern Tiger women's side for the opener at Cessnock has been something of a "nightmare" for coach Mick Schmiedel.
He doesn't mind saying selecting his starting side has been tough.
"It's only their third year in (playing tackle)," Mick Schmiedel said.
He's been the Tiger women's tackle coach from the start.
"This year has been the hardest to pick a side because of the standard of the players," Schmiedel said.
"It's been a nightmare.
"I feel bad for the girls who missed out (having to select a game day squad of 18 from a squad of 20).
"I feel bad for the girls who missed out but we can only play the 18 each game.
"But they are all still consideration and even though they haven't made the 18 they can still be called into the side. I've got no doubts they can all do the job for me.
"That's why I'm so confident we can win.
"We've been working on the areas where Newcastle beat us in the trial."
The Tigresses are part of a huge day for Greater Northern Region with their Under 16 and 18 sides playing fourth round Country Championship clashes against Newcastle Maitland Region before the senior men tackle Newcastle Maitland in their opening Country Championship match.
It all starts at 10am at Cessnock Sportsground with the 16s followed by the 18s (11.20am), the men (1pm) and then the women (2.40pm).
GREATER NORTHERN TIGER WOMEN: 1 Hannah Rando, 2 Tanika Darcy, 3 Shae Pemberton, 4 Shai Blackadder, 5 Sarah Byrne, 6 Amy Barraclough capt, 7 Lenikki Craigie, 8 Gaynor Blackadder, 9 Sarah Stewart, 10 Amelia Tunamena, 11 Brooke Davis, 12 Brooke O'Halloran, 13 Kate Brown, 14 Hannah Crisp, 15 Jess Baker, 16 Brooke Doyle, 17 Jess Morgan, 18 Nautica Eather. Coach - Mick Schmiedel, assistant coach - Cody Tickle.
