THURSDAY night training sessions have become a bogey for the Old Bar Pirates rugby league players.
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Coach Jamie Moorehead admits the Pirates have 'hit a bit of a hurdle' going into the opening round of the Group Three competition against Macleay Valley Mustangs at the Old Bar Reserve on Saturday.
"In the last couple of Thursday nights we've lost Jonathon Tickle with an ankle sprain and Justin Berry with a hamstring. We're also without Corey Wheeler, who has a broken collarbone,'' Moorehead said.
"So it's been a difficult couple of weeks.''
The Pirates will also be without second rower Joel Dark because of work commitments tomorrow.
"We'll have five players from last year's under 18 grand final side in the team for the first round,'' Moorehead said.
They are wingers Joe Hinton and Andrew Hills, centre Joel Minihan, hooker Daniel Cocksedge and prop Jared Wooster. Minihan and Wooster both had experience in first grade last season.
Cocksedge will be making his first grade debut. He is still eligible for 18s.
Two players the club imported, Ben Pointer and Ollie Taumavaue have returned to Sydney, while it's understood Nick Beacham will be returning to Wingham. However, Englishman Conor Taylor, a North Coast under 23 representative this season, will start at five-eighth, with Dylan Towers the halfback.
Macleay were the high flyers in the pre-season and Moorehead said they'll present a tough first round opponent.
"They've picked up Chris Piper and Richie Roberts - they were the players of the match in the last two grand finals,'' he pointed out.
"I don't know if playing them in the first round is a good thing or not. They always unpredictable.''
The Mustangs won the northern pre-season competition this season and look sure to be among the contenders for major honours this year.
