STEWART’S RELISHING MATCH-UP ON QUADE
HAMISH Stewart will cherish a head-to-head showdown with Quade Cooper next Sunday when Queensland Country will look to bounce back from their 42-40 heartbreaker against the Western Force.
Country led deep into the see-sawing contest at Bond University before a Jack McGregor try and Ian Prior sideline conversion nudged the Force ahead.
Though it marked Country’s first loss in their premiership defence, flyhalf Hamish Stewart was unperturbed, saying they would take plenty of lessons.
“That’s the good thing about the Country team, we have all got a good level head on us which makes playing footy a lot of fun because there’s no d***heads in the team,” he said. “That’s what we pride ourselves on, just being humble and we accept every challenge.”
With three rounds remaining, Country must respond when they take on Brisbane City in the state derby at Toowong before returning to the Gold Coast the following weekend to host the Sydney Rays.
A key match-up in the City fixture will be the battle of the No.10s: emerging playmaker and Country vice-captain Stewart against his Reds predecessor Cooper.
“I’m looking forward to it and I’m sure he is looking forward to it as well,” Stewart said.