Western is through to a third consecutive under 16s country championship final after an outstanding 40-16 semi-final victory over a gallant Northern Rivers in the Andrew Johns Cup.

And, as an elated Kurt Hancock said post-game, you’ve just got to see these young Rams – who includes Parkes’ Cody Crisp – in action.

Aside from a rocky start that included losing possession off the opening kick-off and then allowing the Northern Rivers to score via the ensuing scrum via a neat effort from winger Kailis Fourmile-Bolt, Western was otherwise sublime in its sudden-death clash at Dubbo’s Apex Oval on Saturday.

Powerful through the forwards, creative out of acting-half, vision through the halves and then speed and strength out wide, Hancock’s Rams will take some stopping in next week’s final against fellow southern pool outfit Illawarra South Coast Dragons.

After trailing 4-0 after 60 seconds, the Rams led 20-10 at the break and then continued to pile on the points in the second term.

Eight different try-scorers got their name on the sheet, Aiden Nunn, Noah Ryan, Mason Pollack, Noah Griffiths, Harry Sullivan, Jack Smith, Elijah Colliss and big Tommy Phillips all crossed in a memorable win for the young Western outfit.

It defied the preparation the Rams had leading into the clash, with Hancock putting the under 16s squad through just one, hour-and-a-half long training session since a final round victory at the end of March.

Hancock said the short approach probably attributed to his side’s slow start but once his Rams hit the lead he was confident a third straight appearance in a championship final was on the cards.

“It’s probably not our best performance across the whole thing, but considering the circumstances it’s pretty pleasing,” a thrilled Hancock said.

“There’s some things to do better but that will happen this week.”

Halves Noah Griffiths and Rylee Blackhall were terrific in the win, while the Western prop rotation of Marlin Pollack, Charlie Holman, Sullivan and Phillips is the best in the Johns Cup.

The injection of both Holman and Phillips off the bench helped the Rams wrestle back the momentum from a Northern Rivers side that went toe-to-toe with the undefeated Rams early.

“They were outstanding,” Hancock added.

The experienced Western mentor hails from Newcastle and has been in contact with the Rebels coaching staff throughout the championship.

Newcastle gathers for training as a group two or three times a week.

Western usually has just the one session in the lead-up to game day – the fact the team draws from Bathurst to Bourke has a little bit to do with that.

“If you got these fellas and did three days a week with them it’d be dead-set scary,” Hancock smiled.

“We get together for an hour a week. It commends the quality of player we have here. To come up with performances like that ... people have got to get out here and see these kids.

“It is (scary). We’re only scratching the surface with these kids.”

The the Northern Rivers, hooker Jonah Whitlam-Rose was strong while Tyrelle Roberts was scheming in the halves.