Orange Hawks will have to wait until the eighth game of the tournament to get their first bid for silverware in 2017 underway, at this weekend’s now-annual Mudgee Nines.
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It’s the toughest tournament opener imaginable too, the two blues will face the Mudgee Dragons – the hosts, defending Nines champions and the reigning Group 10 premier league title winners.
It’ll be Hawks first foray under new captain-coach Willie Heta, who said he’s looking forward to seeing what the side produces at the modified competition, which is based on the Auckland Nines.
It’s also expected to be the first time Hawks unleash a plethora of new recruits.
Hawks will take on one of Mudgee’s two sides in the opening round and the two blues have also been grouped with Newcastle’s Macquarie Scorpions, Group 11 battlers Dubbo Westside and perennial powerhouses The Entrance Tigers.
Not an easy run to the title, by any means.
On the other side of the draw, Bathurst Panthers and Mudgee’s second side will clash with the Gulgong Terriors, Group 11 guns Dubbo Macquarie and the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.
Hawks’ opening game kicks off at 12.55pm on Saturday afternoon, they’ll play two more games that day before facing the Tigers on Sunday.
The Kick For Cash will be held at the conclusion of the round games, followed by the finals. The quarter-finals start at 11.40am and the grand final is scheduled for 3.30pm.
There’s no excuse not to see the rugby league talent in action at Glen Willow, it’s just a gold coin donation to attend, and all proceeds will go towards the victims of the bushfires around Mudgee.
The opening game of the tournament – Dubbo Macquarie versus Gulgong – kicks off at 10am.