COFFS Harbour and Port Macquarie’s best young Oztag players have combined to take on Australia’s finest.

Mid North Coast Mariners sides made their debut at the Australian Junior Championships in Coffs Harbour.

The Mariners are a new combination between Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie’s Oztag associations.

Mariners 12s Girls coach Lauren Fearnley explained the potential of combining Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie’s juniors.

“It’s been pretty good, it’s the first time we’ve done it, and it’s been really nice joining the two areas and I think we’ve got some quality players between both,” she said.

“And it’s made a pretty good side, and I think in a few more years they will be up there with the best, they are pretty good,”

Fearnley shared with News Of The Area the message she gave to her girls as they prepared to face the best juniors in the country.

“We’re not here to necessarily take out the national championship, for some of them it’s their first opportunity to play at a national level,” she said.

“I think just representing our region and having fun, I really wanted the girls to have fun and to want to come back and play.

“I told them just to go and have some fun, and this last game we lost by a heap, but I said to the girls, let’s set little goals like let’s try to score or run our plays so at least we are taking away something from each game.

“It’s not necessarily about winning, I just wanted them to have a good time.”

The Mariners coach said playing against the country’s best provided a benchmark for her girls to aspire to.

“If that’s the benchmark we need to work towards, that’s the reality of it, and the girls really need to work together and find some local comps to join and play together over the years, and try to build the same kind of relationship as those other top girls because they just move the ball like professionals,” she said.

Mid North Coast Mariners senior sides will be in action at the Australian Championships in Coffs Harbour on 3-5 November.

By Aiden BURGESS