New Moree recruit Dan Sweeney will be among several new faces pulling on the Central North jersey at Port Macquarie this weekend, but the utility back is no stranger to the Country Championship environment.
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The Country U20s rep has played at the last four championships for New England. He’s one of three recent Lions in the Kookaburras squad, along with Sam Callow and Dom Bower.
Callow, who was the Colts Player of the Championships last year, is also playing for the Bulls while Bower has linked up with Walcha.
Six Bulls figure in the Kookaburras squad with Callow and Sweeney joined by Ben Legg, Kyle O’Connor, Will Carrigan and Maciu Latabua.
Part of the premiership winning St Alberts side last year, Sweeney moved to Moree for work purposes after completing his agribusiness studies.
During his time in Armidale he played three years with the Lions 20s, captaining them to the NRMA Colts Shield title in 2015 and earning a Country jersey, before stepping up to the opens last year.
This weekend though will be another step up taking on the likes of Newcastle Hunter and Illawarra, who the Kookaburras have drawn in their Caldwell Cup semi-final on Saturday.
“It will be pretty tough and very physical,” Sweeney said.
“Again there will be a lot less room to move.”
The Forbes native is the epitome of a utility.
About the only position he hasn't played in the backline is half-back.
Playing predominantly at 15 his time with Albies, he shifted into the centres for a few games last season, and on Saturday played five-eighth for the Bulls.
“Wearing 10 was a bit unusual, but I’m happy to play wherever to fit in,” he said.
He was admittedly a bit surprised when approached about playing at 10, but said it’s always good to change it up. And he has played there before, for the Lions last year in fact.
He is still finding his feet in the role, with the five-eighth essentially the conductor of the attack.
That is probably the biggest thing he’s had to get his head around - directing the play.
He’s more accustomed to being the one chiming in.
Saturday saw Sweeney link up in the halves with a former Albies team-mate in Nick Smith.
“He was half-back and I was fullback,” he recalled.
The Bulls had to settle for a share of the points after drawing 21-all.
“It was a pretty good tough first hit-out,” Sweeney said.
“A lot of things went well for us but little things let us down like penalties and dropped balls.”
