This is on top of news that lock Adam Dale is unlikely to play again this year after being injured in a motor bike accident.

Tobi was absent from Wingham's last match as he went home to attend his grandfather's funeral. He has since informed club officials that he'll be staying in New Zealand.

Gilkinson joined Wingham this year from Wyong and represented Group Three against Group Two earlier in the month. He also received a late call into the North Coast squad for tomorrow's Country Championship clash against Canberra.

However, he told the club he is moving to his home town of Coffs Harbour and has already sought a release.

"It hasn't been a real good month for us,'' Wingham coach Stu Baker lamented.

"We're not playing real good and now we've lost a couple of players.''

To add to Wingham's problems they meet unbeaten competition front runners Port Macquarie on Sunday at the Wingham Sporting Complex.

Baker said experienced Joel Kliendienst will start in the centres for Gilkinson, while the forwards will be the same as took on Taree City last match. Wingham had the bye last weekend.

Baker has called slick outside back Michael Bailey into the side. Bailey has been in strong form in reserve grade this year.

A club junior, Bailey was an accomplished goal kicker in under 18s.

"I not sure if he has been kicking much lately although we have a thousand goal kickers,'' Baker said.

"But it's no use having them if you don't score tries.''

Baker added the mood in the club remains upbeat.

"We had a good run on Tuesday night. Port's obviously the team to beat at this stage of the season but it mightn't be a bad time to meet them after we've had a few things go against us,'' he added.

Port has opened a three point gap on the field on the competition ladder.

TAREE City five-eighth Todd Bridge has opted to take the early guilty plea and will miss Sunday's Group Three Rugby League clash against Port City at Port Macquarie.

Bridge was sent off after fulltime of the clash against Wauchope last Sunday after allegedly making a comment to referee Corey Richardson. Initially the Bulls considered challenging the decision claiming the referee had called fulltime. Richardson denied this and Group Three and Taree City officials were busily looking for conclusive video proof of the incident.

However, Taree coach Paul Northam said it has since been decided to take the early plea.

Bridge will only miss one game. However, the Bulls have been dealt a further blow with the loss of consistent centre Aaron Bayley, who has been solid in Taree's last two outings. Bayley is unavailable.

Second rower Thomas Berry is also a week away from returning from an ankle injury.

Northam will move Alan McDonald from the wing to the centre to cover for Bayley, with under 18 player Blake Turner coming in on the flank. Turner will also play in the junior game.

Luke Murray switches from hooker to five-eighth. Either Thomas Paulson or Kane Allan will be the hooker.

Northam admits tomorrow's clash will feature two teams desperate for a win. Both suffered close losses last week, the Bulls 12-8 to Wauchope and Port City 20-18 to Old Bar. The Breakers now sit in last place but have a bye in hand.

Northam said a positive to come out of the game was his side's improved defence. However, he added the Bulls took some poor fourth and fifth tackle options in attack.

"We've changed things around at training this week and gone back to basics. I think that's the way to go,'' he said.

OLD Bar captain-coach Danny Russell will decide today whether he takes his place in Sunday's Group Three Rugby League game against Forster-Tuncurry at Tuncurry.

Russell was replaced early in the second half of the clash against Port City last Saturday with a hamstring injury. Old Bar won the game 20-18.

"I'd rate myself a 70-30 chance of playing,'' Russell said.

"I didn't tear the hamstring and I only came off as a precaution. But in saying that I'm not going to risk it if I don't think it's right.''

However Russell hasn't yet decided on who he will call into the side if he isn't able to play.

"I'm not thinking that way at the moment,'' he said.

Old Bar goes into the game after two strong wins over Wauchope and Port City. However, the team's preparation was disrupted earlier this week because of the state of the Old Bar field. The club has since been forced to switch the game from Old Bar to Tuncurry.

The Pirates have moved up to equal third on the ladder with Wauchope, just one point shy of the Hawks and will be looking for another scalp on Sunday.

Russell said there wasn't much between the sides when they met in the pre-season.

"But that's pre-season, not an 80 minute game,'' he quickly added.

Russell said the last fortnight has turned around Old Bar's season.

"But it can turn the other way just as quickly,'' he said.

FORSTER-Tuncurry will be without representative rugby league front rower Matt Kirkland for at least two matches while he recovers from broken ribs.

Kirkland sustained the injury in the Hawks' loss to Port Macquarie last week.

"He was hurt in the first half and played out the whole match with it,'' Forster coach Troy Hilder said.

Kirkland will miss games against Old Bar and Wingham. There's a general bye in Group Three for the June long weekend and Hilder hopes Kirkland will be fit for the opening second round clash with Taree City.

Hilder will shift Luke Ross to the front row for Sunday's match against Old Bar at Tuncurry, with Ben Murray coming into the side in the second row. Promising fullback Corey Eason returns from injury and will play fullback.

Hilder described Forster's 22-10 loss to Port Macquarie as a learning curve. This was the side's first defeat of the year.

"Port's set the standard,'' he said.

"They have Matt Shipway and Joe Cudmore who have introduced a bit of Newcastle style of football into the side. Last week showed us where we need to be.''

The Hawks trailed 18-0 at halftime and Hilder admitted the performance in the first half was disappointing.

"But we improved in the second - we actually won that. But you have to win both halves to win a game of football,'' he added.

Hilder realises the Hawks will face an Old Bar side buoyed by successive wins. However, he believes this is the nature of this year's competition.

"The scoreboard shows that there's no easy games,'' he said.