b"THE 2019 CUPWhat is the General Managers view?The 2019 Men's and Women's Open's State Cup is the pinnacle ofthat went within a whisker of taking the sport in NSW (if not Australia), and this year in my mind is quitethe Vawdon Cup title in his absence. intriguing. Many of you may think that you have already picked theTheir power game and foot speed winners. For mine, however, I don't believe that it sets up as simplemake them an obvious choice to say as that? One thing about the Cup is that it is hard to win, has naturalthey win the Cup, but that would be attrition play a part and gives opportunity for upsets to have anto discount several dangerous teams impact on the event. that could spoil the party. However, Last year we saw history. Firstlypaper I consider the top fourany team that has a frontline of Doylalson Dragons became thechances. The second group is thoseThompson, Fitzpatrick and both first country team to be crownedthat could force their way into theLangbridges are always going to be State Champion in the premiersemi's, and no one would reallyhard to beat, and that will be true division. This was on the backbe surprised. Then there are thethis year.of also being the first open'sdangers, those teams you know youBankstown will be going into the team to win the Vawdon Cup,should beat, probably will beat, butevent full of confidence following Country Championships andyou are nervous about seeing themtheir tremendous win at Vawdon! In State Cup treble. In the Women's,in your pool. that game the most impressive thing Canterbury Bulldogs became theDoyalson, Bankstown, Penrith andfor me as that in their first big game, most successful Women's team inHornsby are the teams I consider infacing the all-conquering Dragons, the history of the event. Can thethe top four group. Doyalson hasthey were not overawed. In fact, defending champs in both divisionshad a golden run over the past twotheir young line up (discounting Roy go back to back? While both areyears. Still, they have stumbled inPrasad- sorry Roy) embraced the seeded 1, I am not sure they willtheir last two finals, going down toopportunity. Now the exciting thing have an easy task in repeating.the Devils at Country and then thefor me will be two things. One- will That's not to say that they cant, but IBankstown boys at Vawdon Cup.they fall for the all too common think it will be difficult. While they won't have the servicespremiership hangover and what In the Men's, I see some distinctof one of their stars in Scott Bundy,will be the effect of now being the groupings. Firstly those that onthey still have a formidable line uphunted rather than the hunter. Mail 14|Keeping In Touch 2019 77195_NSWTA-KeepingInTouchMagazine-2019.indd 14 2/12/19 3:21 pm"