New South Wales Suburban will take on Queensland Suburban in a curtain raiser to the Qantas Wallabies’ third Test against Wales at a sold-out Allianz Stadium this Saturday (3pm). Kicking off at 12.05pm, NSW Subbies will be out to defend the Barraclough Shield after last year’s thriller saw them beat their Queensland rivals for the 36th time in 44 meetings.
NSW Subbies’ No. 8 Viliame Ratu (Brothers) and hooker Chad Maher (Blacktown) are the only changes made by NSW coach Damon Baffico to squad that defeated NSW Country 27-22 at the Allianz Stadium on June 2, when the team played before the HSBC Waratahs FxPro Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes.
Suburban clubs, who have the week off from their respective competitions, have responded magnificently to the ARU’s scheduling of the curtain raiser, purchasing 2000 tickets and selling out the Subbies’ only bays at the Paddington end of Allianz Stadium. Gates at Allianz Stadium open at 12pm.
NSW Suburban v QLD Suburban
Saturday 23 June, Allianz Stadium
NSW Suburban
1. James Warwick-Smith (St Patricks), 2. Murray Scoles (St Patricks), 3. Tony Barry (Colleagues); 4. Mitch Hardy (St Patricks), 5. Glen Packer (Campbelltown); 6. Matthew Battishall (Oatley), 7. Craig Thomas (Brothers), 8. Adam Choice (Campbelltown); 9. Vinny Byrne (Brother), 10. Dan Kelly [c] (Colleagues); 11. Greg Dunn (Campbelltown), 12. Perofeta Sila (St Patricks), 13. Chris Newton (Drummoyne), 14. Sebastian Burfitt (Redfield); 15. Jake Hayebond (Drummoyne).
Reserves: 16. Chad Maher (St Patricks), 17. Patrick Galvin (Hunters Hill), 18. Nick Watson (Colleagues), 19. Viliame Ratu (Brothers), 20. Joe McSwiney (Hunters Hill), 21. Ben Gordon (Beecroft), 22. Henry Clark (Mosman), 23. Andrew Vernon (Campbelltown).
Coach: Damon Baffico
Queensland Suburban
1. Matt Wieland (Wynnum), 2. Nathan Hazlett (Wynnum), 3. Daniel Power (Wynnum); 4. Daniel Egan (Ipswich), 5. Joshua Sio (Ipswich); 6. Scott Young (Wynnum), 7. Michael Timmins (Brothers), 8. Phillip Croucamp [c] (Pine Rivers Boars); 9. Matt Myers (Wynnum), 10. David Good (Pine Rivers Boars); 11. Shane Cutmore (GPS) 12. David Purcell (TC Beirne School of Law) 13. Brent Reid (Wests) 14. Brad Reid (Wests); 15. Thomas Dwyer (Ipswich).
Reserves: 16. Jamie Tupaea (Pine Rivers Boars) 17. Silas Cocks (Ipswich), 18. Peter Crunkhorn (Easts Longhorns) 19. Daniel Tape (Pine Rivers Boars), 20. Todd Murphy (Wests), 21. Peter Richardson (Easts Longhorns), 22. Aaron Savage (Wynnum).
Coach: Paul Davey