Brenton Cochrane to captain West Entertainment Group Nines competition team

By Geoff Newling

Brenton Cochrane, Scott Blanch, Cody Tickle and Mitch Doring lead Group 4 into a new era when they captain their respective sides in the new and unique Wests Entertainment Group Nines competition.

The four talented rugby league players met at Scully Park this morning to learn the full story on how the WEG Nines will run.

They also learned of their team sponsors when WEG chief executive Rod Laing married the captains and team sponsors up in a draw.

Tickle will head the Shay Brennan Construction side, Doring will spearhead the JT Fossey team, Cochrane spearheads the Carey’s Freightlines push and Blanch skippers the Marius Street Family Dental squad.

All four captains are excited about the fast-approaching WEG Nines, which is timed to start Saturday, October 3 and run for the four Saturdays in October.

The WEG Nines Final will be played Saturday, October 24.

“All we need now is the players to nominate,” advised Group 4 interim chairman Terry Psarakis.

He said the four captains will play an important role in not only promoting and spearheading the competition but in also attracting players to nominate in the WEG Nines.

Former Narrabri Rugby League Football Club captain-coach Cochrane said that he loved the concept.

The 36-year-old utility star will be suited to the open nines game and is looking forward to it.

“100 per cent,” he said of the novelty, entertainment and excitement the new nines will offer.

“I love the concept, everyone is excited.

“We need to make sure everyone gets onto Group 4 and registers so we have the numbers. The sooner the better.”

Scott Blanch, who captain-coached North Tamworth to a Group 4 first grade premiership last season, is looking forward to the WEG Nines.

“It’s just an exciting game (nines), a bit of entertainment a lot of fun,” Scott Blanch said.

“It’s a bit of promotion for the game in what has been a dour year [with the pandemic]. It’s going to be good getting some footy.”

Cody Tickle has been playing some footy this year.

The talented Werris Creek backrower has been playing for Coonamble Bears in their Group 14 competition.

“Zac Buckley is living in Coonamble now,” he said of a former Werris Creek hooker and teammate.

“He asked me to play.”

Cody’s Bears lost to Dunedoo at Dunedoo on Saturday but he’s sure Group 4 is on a winner with the WEG Nines.

He’s hoping to take Shay Brennan Constructions to the top of the WEG Nines ladder as well.

“I played a bit of nines coming through school,” the 26-year-old said.

“It’s a lot faster and more open but you can’t have too many small, fast players otherwise the other side will roll through the ruck.”

Mitch Doring, 24, might be the youngest of the quartet of captains but the talented pivot, who was going to captain-coach Manilla in this year’s Group 4 second grade competition, is also made for nines.

He spearheads the JT Fossey side and the former NSW Country Under 16 and 18 representative is delighted to be playing let alone captaining one of the four sides.

“It’s an honour,” he said today.

“Going to be a lot of fun. Stoked to be a part of it and it’s a privilege to be named a captain. It’s going to be good fun.”