Jackson Gersbach and NSW Country cubs to tackle City slickers at Penrith

The Cabonne Roos gun and Group 11 representative will line-up for NSW Country on Friday night at Penrith when the boys from the bush tackle a City side comprising the best players from the Harold Matthews Cup.

The under 16s representative clash is rekindling the old City versus Country concept and Gersbach, following on from a stunning Johns Cup country championship campaign with Western to kick-off the 2019 season, says he's keen to take the next step.

"It will be a good challenge, one I've not had before against strong opponents like these guys," the Molong Central School student said.

"We've done a bit of video on them; they're all strong players, they're going to be big bodies, they've got a couple of skillful, big centres and a fullback we need to keep an eye on.

"This is the best from the Harold Matts so it's going to be a good challenge."

Particularly for the forwards, which, at starting prop, Gersbach is expected to lead alongside Rams guns Finnley Neilsen and Aston Warwick in the backrow.

Newly anointed NSW Rugby League's Junior Blues member Braye Porter will play at fullback while Kyle Mahwinney and Matthew Noakes will make their NSW Country debuts off the bench.

A somewhat diminutive bookend, Gersbach is expecting it to be a tough game through the middle but that's where he excelled during the country championship.

"I'm definitely not the biggest frontrower but I'm hoping to step up for country and get it over the city boys and get a role on," Gersbach said.

"It's going to be a high standard though, they've been playing that high level while we were playing Rams. I'm confident and keen to see how I go."

NSW Country has been in camp since Wednesday lunchtime at Penrith, the match doubling as a bit of a trial game for Gersbach and the bush guns in the lead-up to a tour of England at the end of the season.

The Cabonne prop says having five of his Rams teammates in the NSW Country squad and nine members of the Northern Rivers Titans side that knocked off Western in the Johns Cup final should ensure combinations are easy to forge on Friday night.

He said Titans halfback, and player of the championship final, Tom Weaver has been a stand-out at country camp.

NSW Country takes on the New South Wales Rugby League Harold Matthews under 16s from 4.10pm at Penrith Stadium, the match will be the curtain raiser to the Penrith Panthers versus New Zealand Warriors NRL game.