Wednesday, March 13, 2013
By BEN HARRIS
There is more to the 2013 X-Blades National Touch League than winning the title.
Spots in state and national representative teams are also up for grabs.
For Touch NSW general manager Dean Russell, the NTLs and its showpiece event, the Elite Eight Series, is a chance for NSW to reinforce their dominance over the rest of the states, in particular Queensland.
At the State of Origin Series last September, the Maroons and Blues went head-to-head in a thrilling three-game series across 13 divisions.
NSW won the overall series seven divisions to six but Queensland had the last laugh.
The Maroons won two of the three opens divisions – the men’s and women’s – two games to one.
It left a bad taste in the Blues’ camp, a taste that won’t go away until the two states meet again next year.
“To be honest we were pleased to get the win but we weren’t happy with the way we performed as a state,” Russell said.
“We have now reviewed that, we will be looking at putting together stronger teams again next year and this Elite Eight process is part of that.”
Four teams in the Elite Eight Series are from NSW, while three are from Queensland and a combined side featuring players from outside of those states called the Alliance.
NSW teams won the inaugural biennial series in both the men’s and women’s opens divisions in 2011.
Russell is hoping history can repeat itself.
“It is the best of the players in NSW who are available. Unfortunately not all of our players are available this year but we still have a great calibre of players here,” he said.
“Both in the men’s and women’s categories we will be looking at both the Mets teams and the Country Mavericks teams. They are both pretty solid and have strong players, they have some excellent attacking and defensive options both ends of the field.
“In the women’s, don’t be surprised if the NSW Scorpions cause a few upsets along the way, they have a really strong line-up of up and coming players and the Rebels teams are both development teams.”
You can keep up-to-date with all of the latest news and information from the 2013 X-Blades National Touch League in the following ways:
Websites
Social Media
Facebook – www.facebook.com/touchfootballaustralia
Twitter – www.twitter.com/touchfootyaus (be sure to use the hashtag #NTL2013)
Instagram – search for ‘Touch Football Australia’
YouTube - www.youtube.com/touchfootballaus
- Links:
State versus state
