And, the Greater Northern Tigers under-16 and under-18 representative sides are keen to dominate on “home soil” following a mixed opening to the 2019 CRL Country Championships.

The younger of the two “local” sides – which boast Scone quintet Nick Laurie, Luke Smith, Blake Johnston, Sam Fechner and Hayden Bull, Singleton’s Daltyn McCartney and Aberdeen’s Pichai Dixon – accounted for the Central Coast Roosters 34-26.

Now, they’ll tackle the Newcastle Knights, who suffered a 38-8 loss to the Northern Rivers Titans, from noon.

The Greater Northern under-18s, coached by Muswellbrook’s Steve Haylen, will be keen to bounce back from a 34-26 defeat at the hands of the Roosters.

Their opponents at 1.20pm on Saturday, the Knights DS, hammered the Titans 34-6. 

The Tigers’ squad contains Muswellbrook playmaker Steve Dengate, Denman’s Mackenzie Shepherdson, Scone’s Jalen Darcy, Aberdeen’s Hugh Collins and Singleton duo Jackson Shade and Blake Trees.

The Andrew Johns Cup (under-16s) and Laurie Daley Cup (under-18s) feature 12 teams in each division and showcase the best junior rugby league talent from across Regional NSW taking the field over seven weeks.

Eight NRL clubs have also formed partnerships with regional-based franchises competing in the CRL Junior Representative pathway.

Round 1 – Morrie Breen Oval, Wyong

Andrew Johns Cup

GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 30 (Jock Brazel 2, Ethan Antzakles, Mark Simon, Jordan Leota tries; Daltyn McCartney 5 goals) d CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS 10 (Aaron Antonio, Tallon Worrell tries; Jack Granger goal)

Laurie Daley Cup

CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS 34 (Nathan Kegg-King 2, Riley Stevenson, Caydn Rosemeyer, Reagan Harris, Cooper Page-Wilson tries; Harris 5 goals) d GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 26 (Jackson Shade 2, Kyle Johnson, Clay Frendin, Kobe Bone tries; Steven Dengate 3 goals) 

Round two matches:

Saturday –

10am - Johns Cup/11.20am - Daley Cup

Central Coast Roosters v North Coast Bulldogs – Morry Breen Oval, Wyong

Noon - Johns Cup/1.20pm - Daley Cup

Greater Northern Tigers v Newcastle Knights - Scone Park, Scone

Noon - Johns Cup/1.20pm - Daley Cup

Riverina Bulls v Western Rams - Ron Crowe Oval, West Wyalong

Noon - Johns Cup/1.30pm - Daley Cup

Penrith Panthers v Illawarra South Coast Dragons - St Mary's Leagues Stadium

1.25pm - Johns Cup/2.40pm - Daley Cup

Monaro Colts v GSR Wests Tigers - Bega Recreation Ground

1.30pm - Johns Cup/3pm - Daley Cup

Parramatta Eels v Northern Rivers Titans - McCredie Park, Guildford