UNDEFEATED leaders and last year's grand final winners Cessnock have dominated the Rebels squad named by Newcastle Rugby League selectors on Sunday night.
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The Goannas scored eight of the 19 spots announced following round four of the 2021 season, with six of those players only joining the Coalfields club this year.
Headlining the contingent are former NRL player Tyrone Roberts-Davis, halfback AJ Davis and Queensland Cup trio Billy Gilbert and the Burns brothers, Gerome and Denzel who crossed for a combined four tries in Cessnock's 30-0 win over Lakes at Cahill Oval on Saturday.
Maitland and Macquarie picked up three positions each, Central got two while Wests, Wyong and The Entrance nabbed one apiece.
"It's fairly reflective of how the sides have been going," Rebels coach Aaron Watts said.
"Cessnock have been fairly dominant."
Newcastle have fixtures against Canberra and Illawarra this year.
In Sunday's sole game Central edged out The Entrance 20-18 in a tight encounter at St John Oval. Brad Murray, replacing injured halfback Luke Walsh (knee), scored a try for the Butcher Boys just before half-time.
Saturday saw Macquarie beat Wyong 36-12 at Lyall Peacock Field, the Bulldogs overtook Wests inside the last 10 minutes prevailing 14-10 at Kurri Sportsground while the Pickers accounted for Souths 28-12 at Maitland.
REBELS: Dylan Phythian, Denzel Burns, Gerome Burns, Tyrone Roberts-Davis, Adrian Davis, James taylor, Billy Gilbert, Jayden Butterfield, Jacob McCudden, Wyatt Shaw, Luke Higgins, Daniel Langbridge, Connor Kirkwood, Ben Roose, Joe Bromage, Cameron Anderson, Blake Andrews, Robert Tuilatu, Matt Moon.
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