Bennett was named on Thursday in the 18-man squad for the 2019 Australian Country Championships, which will be held in Victoria's Shepperton in August (3-11).

Newcastle won the NSW State Championships in Sydney on Monday with a penalty shootout win over Illawarra South Coast in the final.

Other Hunter Coast Premier Hockey League players recalled to the NSW Country side are Darby Chalmers, Ben Hanlan (Souths) and Ben Ferguson (Gosford).

NSW Country are vying for a seventh straight national crown.

Newcastle state title winners Ky Willott, Rory Walker (Norths), BJ Bruton (Wests) were announced in the NSW Pride squad on Wednesday along with Sydney-based Kurt Lovett.