NSW Country head coach Darren Coleman reflects on an incredible three years for the Eagles in the NRC as they prepare to host the 2016 Grand Final in Tamworth.

It’s not often that you find yourself the most experienced player in your team when you only celebrated your 28th birthday a few months ago. But with the Sydney Rays boasting an average age of just over 24-years-old, across a squad with only five other Super Rugby representatives, that’s exactly the position de facto ‘veteran’ Chris Alcock finds himself in as he looks to help the Rays into a maiden grand final tomorrow afternoon.

One of the true gifts of the NRC is seeing a relatively unheralded player come through, grab his opportunity with both hands and run with it for all he’s worth.