Seahawk tips a slow start

MENMUNY Murgha is back to bolster Yarrabah’s title defence but skipper Milton Mossman has warned not to expect miracles from the Seahawks early this CDRL season.

An away trip to Edmonton will start their 2018 campaign and the Gold Medal winner said his side could be made to pay for a slack preseason turnout.

“One of our struggles will be down to not having much of a preseason ... so I think we’ll play our better footy in the second half of the season and we need to get ourselves right before we can even think about winning,” Mossman said.

The skipper urged his players to wipe the slate clean and play this season as if they were chasing their first title.

Mossman has extra motivation after he and partner Ashleigh Sushames became parents to a boy, Rylan, last month, something that challenged him at the height of the preseason.

But returning to the park with other star players in Hezron Murgha, Dale Ambrym and Menmuny Murgha has him almost just as excited.

The latter is set to play fullback against the Storm after spending time at Intrust Super Cup club Norths last year.

“A couple of new players have come along and some of us are pretty keen to go again in 2018,” Mossman said.

Yarrabah’s Round 1 opponents have lost Pride allocation Lee Kennedy for tomorrow’s clash.

Elsewhere, Sheldon PoweHobbs will take his first tentative steps back from a neck injury for Kangaroos against Innisfail Brothers tonight.

Mossman/Port Douglas will welcome Shawn Bowen back for their home match against Mareeba, while Broski EmeryHunia will return for Brothers after missing Round 1 with a back injury.