As you’ll know, we’ve already spent a lot of time scouting players to determine candidates for Wolfpack. The main thing we want to do is make sure that when we choose the squad that we have had the chance to assess everyone properly. Following are the selection procedures:
Before the end of the NSW season two squads will be announced. I want to stress that at this point no player has been confirmed as being selected, or told what category they might be chosen. Players have been spoken to but mainly only to indicate that they are being looked at for Wolfpack.
The first will be a list of A CANDIDATES
This will be 60 players that the coaches feel are either ready for Wolfpack, or who are in competition for roster spots. These are players who have shown in scouting that they have potential to make the final travelling squad – which will only be 46 players. The ‘As’ are those we consider top candidates for Wolfpack.
The second list will be the B CANDIDATES
These are players who aren’t in our top 60 for various reasons: either not fitting the scheme or have not scouted as well as the top 60. But they are players we would still like to assess. If you are selected as a B CANDIDATE it doesn’t mean that you have no chance of making Wolfpack. You will be looked at and tested. I expect there will be some ‘bolters’ from this list who put themselves into consideration for the squad.
It’s been decided that the physical testing – speed, agility, strength etc – will take place mid-late January (dates tbc.) This is to give players a chance to rest after the season and hit the weights, do some running, get over niggles etc. This will then be followed by two days of Trials in late January – where both A & B candidates will participate in football specific drills. This will give us a good idea of how players perform in situations specific to our schemes.
After those trials the 60 man train-on squad will be named. Keep in mind that players may have a preference of where they want to play, but decisions will be made in context of what the team requires and needs.
That squad will then be cut down to 46 players about 7 weeks out from the tournament.
All of this is to ensure two things:
- To make sure that we assess every Wolfpack candidate fully
- To ensure we arrive at a squad of the best footballers, who are the most talented and most committed we can find.
