RACE FOR TRL TITLE BEGINS
RUGBY LEAGUE: Highfields will have to overcome recent history tomorrow if they are to remain in the hunt for their first ever TRL A-grade title.
They find themselves up against Warwick in tomorrow’s elimination final at Glenholme Park, the side that handed them a pair of defeats during the regular season.
Despite the narrow two and four point defeats to this weekend’s opponents, Highfields coach Gus McKellar retains confidence in his side as they strive to keep their premiership aspirations alive.
“They’re pretty solid across the park. Their centres (Joe Fuimaono and Dylan Galloway) are their strength, as are Ben Sullivan and their back row” McKellar said.
“We know that if we focus on what we need to do we are confident we can get the job done.”
Last weekend Highfields led minor premiers Wattles at half-time, before the Warriors finished over the top of them to claim another win.
McKellar said it was important for his side to build off the effort shown to get over the top of the Cowboys tomorrow.
“They had 43 sets to our 28 which is quite a difference,” he said.
“Some of it was our own fault through silly errors, but it wasn’t from a lack of effort. Our game management was a bit off and hurt us in the end.
“We’ll be looking for our two halves this weekend. Their kicking game was poor last week, and Jarrod (Lee) and Sean (Loxley) have taken ownership of that.”
In a tale of contrasting styles, the league’s best attack comes up against the top-rated defence in the competition, with Highfields averaging over 38 points per game, and Warwick conceding less than 18 points per contest.
Warwick coach Phil Economidis is hoping the side’s staunch defence can continue, having limited the Eagles to 20 points in each of their two previous meetings.
“The last game we played them, it was our defence (that won it for us). It was brutal and physical,” Economidis said.
“They always come home strong and are a very fit team. The semis are not about trying to build a lead, but to get into the grind and keep grinding.”
One of those players he is looking to lead that grind is skipper Michael Bloomfield.
“He is the king of the grind. I was very happy to see him make the top TRL players of the year,” he said.
“He’s our only player to play every game this year, and he hasn’t had a bad one amongst them.”
Economidis said Joe Fuimaono and Jared Bradfield would be back in the line-up this weekend after sitting out last week’s win over Brothers.
TEAM LISTS WARWICK: 1. Craig Donn, 2. Declan McLoughlin, 3. Joe Fuimaono, 4. Dylan Galloway, 5. Mitchell Watson, 6. David McGrady, 7. Ben Sullivan, 8. Darren Pettiford, 9. Paul Cantwell, 10. Garry Ellery, 11. Joshua Cruice, 12. Michael Bloomfield, 13. Jared Bradfield. 14. Harry Sullivan, 15. Matthew Marshall, 16. Cody Byrne, 17. Cruise MartinBrown, 18. Keiran Fender, 19. Jordyn Hogden, 20. Coen Martin-Brown. HIGHFIELDS: 1. Denzel Burns, 2. Campbell Stewart, 3. Zac Loxley, 4. Sean Hamel, 5. Aaron Hooper, 6. Sean Loxley, 7. Jarrod Lee, 8. Isaac Laird, 9. Zane Miller, 10. Danny Dean, 11. Conor Nolan, 12. Dale Madden, 13. Sam Bielefled. 14. Nick Bainbridge, 15. Nathan Smith, 16. Josh Everett, 17. Tom Hine, 18.Tom Ingersole, 19. Brandon George, 20. Jake George.