TAREE City coach Gary Bridge will delay a decision on whether representative prop Josh Northam plays in tomorrow’s Group Three Rugby League preliminary final against Macleay at Kempsey until tomorrow morning.
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Northam injured his wrist in Taree’s gritty 32-28 win over Port Macquarie last Saturday. Scans have cleared him of a break, however, Bridge admits the prop is in grave doubt.
“I’ll give Josh to the morning of the game and see how he is,’’ Bridge said.
If Northam is ruled out it will only increase the height and weight disadvantage the Bulls will have against the Macleay pack. Michael Peachey will come into the starting 13 if Northam can’t play.
The Bulls will only field one under 18 player in the starting 13, halfback Toby De Stefano, who scored two tries in the minor semi last week. Jake Lauder, Oscar Carey and Bruwyn Tisdell will all head back to the junior grade, where they’ll play for the Bulls against Wauchope. However, all are likely to sit on the bench for first grade.
The Bulls have surprised many by progressing this deep into the final series.
“I don’t think there’s too many people who thought we'd still be playing now,’’ Bridge said.
However, he concedes playing the Mustangs at Kempsey will present plenty of problems.
“This will be a tough road trip,’’ he said.
“We’ll have to starve them of the ball and hope we can cut down their attacking options. They’ve also perfected the chip and chase, so hopefully the ball will bounce in a different direction this week instead of right back to them, like always seems to happen.’’
He also admitted the size of the Mustang forwards surprised him in last week’s major semi. Here the Mustangs were right in the game 25 minutes into the second half until a late scoring flurry by the Breakers saw them skip away to a 46-24 win.
The Mustangs beat Taree twice in the competition rounds, although both matches were tightly contested. Halves Anthony Cowan and Mal Webster troubled the Bulls in both matches. Cowan missed the loss to Port City with injury while Webster also appeared to be down on fitness.
The Bulls haven’t appeared in a first grade grand final since winning the premiership in 2007.
“I shouldn't have to motivate them this week,’’ Bridge said.
Winner of the match will play the unbeaten Port City in the grand final at Port Macquarie on Sunday August 27.
