WINGHAM will rush lock Adam Dale back into the first grade side for Saturday's crunch Group Three Rugby League game against Forster-Tuncurry at Wingham.
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Dale's been sidelined since late April after smashing his hand in a motor bike accident. It was intially thought he was gone for the season.
"He lost a bit of his pinky (little finger),'' coach Stu Baker said.
"But Adam's right now and he's a massive inclusion for us.''
Baker has no doubt that Dale will be right for the encounter and he isn't concerned about his lack of match fitness.
"He's one of the most passionate players I've seen. He'll start at lock and he'll be the captain as well,'' Baker said.
Winner of tomorrow's game will finish fourth and so claim a home semi-final. However, if Wingham loses and Taree City beats Old Bar, the Tigers will be spectators for the finals series. Should Wingham lose and the Pirates down Taree City, the Tigers will claim fifth spot.
But Baker said he won't be playing any heed to what's happening at Old Bar.
"If we can't beat Forster than we don't deserve to be there anyway,'' he reasoned.
Wingham will welcome back a host of players for tomorrow including five-eighth Trent Green. Injuries and work commitments saw Wingham head to Port Macquarie last weekend with only 26 players for first and reserve grades.
"I thought we competed well, which is what we went up there to do,'' Baker said.
"It was only in the last 10 to 15 minutes that they got away from us.''
Port won 48-6.
Wingham won the first round clash against the Hawks and Baker said the club's recent record is good against the Great Lakes combination.
"Footy's weird like that, we've had the wood on them a bit. I know that doesn't mean anything this weekend, but hopefully we can continue that.''
Baker said the mood in the camp was upbeat at training this week. He's confident that Matt Bridge and Shannon Ellem, who were both injured against Port, will be right to take their place for what will be the biggest game at the Wingham Sporting Complex this season.
TAREE City coach Paul Northam will call two under 18 players into his first grade squad for Saturday's must-win last round Group Three Rugby League game against Old Bar at OId Bar.
Blake Turner and Dean Mills will either start or play off the bench. Turner has been used regularly in first grade this year, however, this will be Mills's first start in the 3pm game.
The Bulls will be without skipper Ash Currey and hooker/five-eighth Luke Murray. Currey has a broken hand while Murray injured his shoulder against Port City last week.
Utility player Ethan Currey was to have a fitness test on his ankle last night while winger Allan McDonald has been omitted.
Northam said Thomas Berry will start the game in the forwards and he'll shuffle his players around to cover for Murray and Currey.
The equation is simple for the Bulls. They have to beat Old Bar and then hope Forster-Tuncurry downs Wingham. If that's the case the Bulls will grab fifth place. A loss to the Pirates or a Wingham win means the Bulls can start organising Mad Monday.
"If Wingham wins, we're dusted,'' Northam said.
"But we'll have to concentrate on beating Old Bar first before we worry about that.''