FOUR Shoalhaven talents will spearhead Wollongong's assault on the upcoming NSW Touch Country Championships at Tuggerah.
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During the October 17-18 tournament, the Devils will send two open men's sides, a youth boys team and a mixed open's squad.
The latter's side features Nowra's Sam Watts, Berry's Ruby Nicholson, Ulladulla's Ben McClennan (a NSW Touch men's 35s squad member) and Vincentia's Kate Milani - who were all part of the Southern Suns mixed 30s division side that competed at March's National Touch League.
"Divisions have been combined this tournament due to COVID protocols," said Wollongong Touch Association's Tim Robinson - with Wollongong's mixed 30s side set to play in the combined mixed open competition.
"While it will be a step up playing against the open's teams, it will also be great practice ahead of State Cup in December."
Of the Shoalhaven quartet, 53-year-old Milani, who started playing the sport at 16, has the most experience at country championships.
"Kate is the most competitive and motivating player I've played with and coached," Robinson said.
"She turned plenty of heads at nationals and really inspired the team to push harder.
"I'm looking forward to now having her part of the Wollongong Devils.
"It's quite funny, the opposition would look as if to say 'who's this old girl on the wing'.
"But without a doubt, Kate would have their measure and pretty quickly, their respect."
Milani started her successful career, which involves NSW Country representative honours, at Wagga Wagga before stopping in Griffith and eventually arriving on the South Coast in 2003.
"The country championships are always such good fun," Milani, who was the coach of the first-ever girls Riverina PSSA touch side, said.
"I can still remember winning the open mixed title with Griffith in 1994 at Dubbo which was captain/coached by Australian representative Michael Zalunardo."
After more than a 10-year hiatus from representative action, the mother of three returned to compete at the country championships with Wagga four years ago - with her women's 35s side winning it in 2018 under coach Kevin Salmon (who she won many Wagga A grade titles with).
This was followed by her re-joining the Southern Suns at the start of this season - a side which she first played for in 1997.
"Playing at the NTL with the Suns earlier in the year was probably one of the best tournament I've been a part of, with the way the team bonded, the catching up with old friends and making of new friends I did," Milani, who's played knockout tournaments with Riverina, St Georges Basin and Milton Ulladulla Touch Associations before, said.
"People say it's a small world but for me, touch is one big community and I love it.
"With eight of that side Suns side are in our Wollongong side for the upcoming country championships, which should bode really well for us."
Despite the mixed side competing in the open's division, Milani, who will be representing Wollongong for the first time, can't see why her team can't go all the way
"There's plenty of points in our side, especially with the Australian squad members Tim Robinson controlling the middle and Eliza Baddock and Ben McClennan as our links," the winger said.
"I know we can match it with any team in the competition, so finals should be our minimum goal.
"There's a real belief and trust within one another that I haven't experienced in many of my teams over the years.
"It's really exciting and I can't see why we can't go all the way."