WINGHAM’S Group Three Rugby League season could be on the line in Saturday’s clash against Port Macquarie at Port Macquarie.
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The Tigers have slipped out of the five and coach Jamie Moorehead admits it will be a tough road ahead should they lose to Port.
“We’re the ones who got ourselves into this position and we’re the only ones who can get us out,’’ Moorehead said.
“At the moment we’re not playing like a top five side.That’s something we’re going to have to address very quickly. We just have to take it a week at a time, starting this week with the Sharks.’’
The Tigers slumped to a loss to Forster-Tuncurry on a heavy ground at Wingham last Sunday. This was Forster’s first win of the year.
Moorehead will check the fitness of five-eighth Tahj Wood, who failed to see out the game against Forster after injuring his thumb. He admitted that veteran hooker Andrew Gilbert could be in line for a recall to first grade.
Moorehead agreed that Gilbert, a former first grade captain-coach, would give the Tiger some direction they badly needed last weekend.
“But ‘Gilby’ has just returned after he injured his bicep in our trial game earlier this year,’’ Moorehead said.
“He’ll tell me where he's at. In his two games back in reserve grade he’s been one of the best players.’’
Moorehead said Gilbert is ‘in the mix’ for a recall to first grade.
“But there are about 20 players in the mix. We have a reggies (reserve grade) side that has only lost one game, so some of our first graders will be looking over their shoulder.’’
Veteran halfback Trent Green missed the clash against the Hawks and Moorehead isn’t too optimistic about him being right for this match.
“I don’t think there’ll be too many changes from the team we had last week,’’ Moorehead forecast.
The Sharks have found a bit of form in the last couple of games, further complicating the issue for Wingham. The Sharks now sit in the top four.
"Every northern game is tough and this will be no different,’’ Moorehead said.
MEANWHILE Forster-Tuncurry will look to record successive wins for the first time this year in the clash against Wauchope at Wauchope tomorrow.
The Hawks are fresh from a confidence boosting win over Wingham last Sunday. Wauchope and Forster are seemingly out of finals contention, but are desperate to avoid the wooden spoon.
The Blues are currently two points clear of the last placed Forster-Tuncurry.
Hooking role for versatile Towers
VERSATILE Dylan Towers will fill-in as hooker for Old Bar Pirates in the important Group Three Rugby League game at the Old Bar Reserve tomorrow.
Towers is better known as a halfback or five-eighth, but will wear the number nine jumper in the absence of regular rake Mike Fiall, who is unavailable.
Co-captain-coach Jake Wheeler said Towers will do the job at hooker.
“Dylan's a handy player – we can put him anywhere,’’ Wheeler said.
The Pirates will also welcome centre Clint Walker back after he missed the 18-16 loss to Port Macquarie due to suspension. Shaun Carr returns after being unavailable last week. Centre Alan McDonald played against the Sharks despite carrying injury and Wheeler said he will be monitored at training.
The track at Old Bar promises to be heavy tomorrow and Wheeler agreed this should suit the Pirates’ physical pack. He is confident this is where the Pirates can get the better of their free running opponents.
“We certainly won’t be looking to play them out wide,’’ he said.
Four teams chasing three spots
TAREE City coach Gary Bridge maintains there are three places now available in the Group Three Rugby League final five.
He’s determined the Bulls will grab one berth.
“Port City and Macleay are safe and I don’t think Wauchope or Forster can make it now,’’ Bridge reasoned.
The Bulls are third but it’s a congested field. Taree makes the trip to Port Macquarie on Sunday to tackle the undefeated Port City Breakers.
The Bulls have 17 points with Port Macquarie on 16, Old Bar 15 and Wingham on 14.
Wauchope follow on 12 with Forster-Tuncurry on the bottom with 10.
The Bulls will be at full strength for Sunday’s contest. Bridge confirmed that hooker Mick Henry will return to the starting side after playing from the bench in the 30-26 loss to Macleay last week. Henry sustained a badly cut head the previous match against Old Bar and it was initially feared he could spend a month on the sidelines.
“But Mick had a medical clearance to play last week, so I used him,’’ Bridge said.
He acknowledged it will be a tall order to down the Breakers this week.
“We’ll have to starve Port of the ball,’’ Bridge said when explaining Sunday’s game plan.
He added the Bulls tend to defend well in their own quarter, but have been guilty of conceding long range tries and that would be fatal against the free running Breakers.
“We get a bit lazy in defence and that’s something we have to rectify,’’ Bridge said.
The Breakers have posted 348 points this season. This is nearly 100 more than their nearest rival, Macleay Valley.
Port have also been particularly frugal in defence, having conceded just 140 points. While there’s still much of the second round to be played it would be a brave punter who would be against the Breakers taking out the minor premiership and hosting the major semi-final. The Breakers are also the defending premiers and have played in the last two grand finals.
Port are also co-leaders in reserve grade with Wingham and Port Sharks. All have 22 points, while the Breakers are also on top of the table in the women’s league tag, where they are also unbeaten and defending premiers. The club championship appears a formality.
Bridge said this is the best side he can put on the field.
“This is the team we’ll take going forward and hopefully into the semi-finals,’’ he said.
“Sunday will also show how much we’ve improved since the first round. Last week was our first loss in six games and we had every chance to win that as well.
“I don’t think Port’s a 20 point better side than us, but we’ll know on Sunday.’’
The Bulls will meet Forster-Tuncurry and Wingham after Sunday. The July 8 game against the Tigers will be the annual charity day for Can Assist, where the first grade teams play for the Kristylea Bridge Cup.