The question on everyone’s lips is: “who is going to be playing for the Greater Northern Raiders?”
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The Tim-Coyle coached Cricket Tasmania Premier League side has had about 24 players train or put their hand up to play for Northern Tasmania’s representative side during its debut season.
Chairman Richard Bennett said on Wednesday that the committee is reluctant to prematurely release the names of players until the time is right.
However, he said a captain and squad for the first three one-day matches in October would be unveiled at a season launch on September 21.
“We haven’t got the big-name signing or return of the messiah that we might have hoped for, but it’s starting to take shape,” Bennett said.
“The numbers are stronger from the North at this point in time, which I suppose is not that surprising considering the logistics.
“We are working through the process of guys training, which becomes a requirement of course for them to indicate their intent of making themselves available for selection.
“And part of that is clarifying that they have had conversations with their clubs and if they are comfortable enough for us to flag them as a Raiders player in the media.
“We are not far away from that.”
Bennett said players needed confidentiality to earn trust and in order for them to commit to the new initiative.
At his appointment press conference in July, Coyle, 57, said getting senior players around the region’s youth was vital.
“We’ve got some talented young players… so we need some experience and those experienced players to perform,” he said.
The CTPL fixture was released on Monday with the Raiders’ first game against Kingborough at Kingston’s Twin Ovals on October 6.
UTAS Stadium will host most of the side’s home games with just two games to be played at Burnie’s West Park.
Windsor Park, NTCA No.1 ground and Invermay Park will all host two-day matches, while the NTCA No.2 ground will host a one-day match in round 5.
Bennett said overall he was satisfied with the roster.
“It might help us to have our first game away if we thought we need all the time to have the best possible surface ready to go,” he said.
The side’s maiden home match of the nine-team first grade compeition is in round 2 against New Town at the NTCA No. 2 Ground.
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Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
