MANNING Ratz captain Sam Hartnett will have a nervous wait this week on the result of scans taken on a knee he injured in his side's 39-12 win over Barbarian Hogs in the Lower North Coast Rugby Union clash at Taree Rugby Park.
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Hartnett was assisted from the field midway through the second half and coach Jake Maurirere fears the hard working backrower may have sustained a season-ending ACL injury.
"All we can do is hope it's okay, but it certainly didn't look good,'' Maurirere said.
"Sam's our leader. He gives 110 percent on the training paddock and on game day.''
He added Hartnett's rugby experience is invaluable this year, with the Ratz fielding a number of rugby league players with limited rugby expertise.
The injury took the gloss off what was otherwise a strong effort from the Ratz.
However, Maurirere admitted that his side struggled at times with the basics of the game against the Hogs, a side made up of predominately lower grade players from the Port Macquarie area.
The Ratz forwards had trouble in the scrums against the more experienced opponents and Maurirere said this is an area he'll have to work on.
Strongly built winger Tom Burley was again prominent for the Ratz.
He scored the opening try of the game when he capitalised on a poor clearing kick from the Hogs while he continually powered his way through defenders.
Burley also produced one try saving ball-and-all tackle late in the first half, ending a section of sustained pressure by the visitors. This was only Burley's second game of rugby.
Maurirere said big forward Dave Rees also made an impact playing off the bench.
"He was able to break the line and get us rolling forward,'' Maurirere said.
There's plenty of class in the Ratz backline. Clint Walker proved elusive at fullback while centre Jake Hazard did some smart things.
"We started strongly, but I was a bit disappointed with our performance in the second half,'' Maurirere said.
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"We went away from the game plan and tried to score off every play.''
The Ratz have picked up yet another league player, with former Group Three representative Matt Bridge having his first game with the club. Bridge, a utility back, played off the bench.
Manning head to Gloucester to play the Cockies on Saturday.
"Apparently they've picked up players from the Newcastle area, so this will be a good test,'' Maurirere said.
The Ratz will also welcome back five-eighth Ricky Campbell, who has completed a suspension.
This will give Maurirere more selection headaches.
The coach said before the game that Campbell will come straight back into the side and will probably play five-eighth.
