The squad confirmed for the Newcastle Knights’ trial match in Wauchope on Saturday afternoon contains a mixture of NRL veterans, NSW Cup heavyweights and precocious NYC talents.
Listed at starting hooker is Chad Redman, a graduate of the Knights’ youth system who played 27 games in the NSW Cup last year, scoring five tries along the way.
Redman also bagged the NSW Cup Players’ Player Award for the Knights in 2014, a sign that his teammates hold him in as high regard as coach Rick Stone, who has entrusted him with the number nine jersey for Wauchope.
When asked whether he is excited about the upcoming match, Redman grins.
“I can’t wait, it’s been a long pre-season, so it’ll just be good to put our training to practice on Saturday,” the 22-year-old says.
The Knights will play against the Port Macquarie Sharks and the Wauchope Blues, both for forty minutes.
Both of these clubs play in Group 3, a competition that stretches from Port Macquarie to Forster.
“The fans (in rural areas) don’t get to see any NRL teams during the year, so it’ll be a good experience for the guys out there,” Redman says.
“Especially for the players we’re coming up against, it’ll be good for them to play against NRL players like Kade Snowden.”
Snowden is undoubtedly the biggest name on the team list for the trial in Wauchope and Redman can’t wait to start alongside him.
“I love playing with Snowy, he’s so professional and has been in the game a long time.
“It’ll make my job a lot easier coming from hooker, with a front rower like that.”
But what comes next for Redman once the trial game is done and dusted?
The young hooker has set his sights firmly on making his NRL debut.
“I’ve been working closely with Danny Buderus this pre-season,” he explains.
“I want to get better in my dummy-half play so that I can get up to that NRL level and slot in if I get the chance this year.”
With Adam Clydsdale the only hooker certain of a spot in the NRL squad come Round 1, Redman faces stiff competition from NYC skipper Danny Levi and utility Tyler Randell.
It will be a big challenge, but Redman is fit and firing for the 2015 season.
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