Brothers tough it out
IT HAS been the longest offseason in club history, but it was one Brothers weren’t willing to waste.
The extra hours Roy Baira’s side put in on the training paddock over the last month came to fruition at Jack Manski Oval as they started the Rugby League Mackay District season in style.
Without captain Nathan Norford, who went down injured in the club’s final training run, the Brothers proved too strong on the edges as they ran out 32-10 victors in front of a vocal home crowd.
Coach Roy Baira had been explicit to his troops that they needed to start the shortened season on the front foot, especially given they had two games on home soil to start.
With only six rounds before finals, a false step in the first game against Souths Mackay could have proved costly.
His side responded in kind with their middle forwards, led by Blackhawks-contracted prop Lachlan Taylor, winning an intense battle in the middle of the field. It allowed halves pairing Ty Carucci and Tom Chester the space they needed behind the ruck to orchestrate an impressive win.
But Baira said the pair was far from alone in the victory, with the Brothers side lifting as one to overcome a physical Souths Mackay.
“That was the best thing about it, we really put in a good team effort,” he said.
“Everyone had a role to play and they all really stood up.
“All we talked about before the game was keeping the pressure on and play highcompletion footy.
“It was a very tough encounter, very bruising and very physical for a first round game. They had a few big forwards in the middle, so we just had to get through that physical battle.
“I am sure there would have been a lot of sore bodies on Sunday. But I just said to the boys rest up and freshen up ahead of another tough clash next round.”
While social distancing measures were in place, there was a good crowd on hand in the newly constructed grandstand at Jack Manksi Oval to cheer on the home side.
Baira said the construction really amplified the noise out on to the field, giving his players an extra leg during the tough moments.
“It was pretty packed out by the time the boys got on the field and it was definitely loud out there,” he said.
Fellow Townsville side Norths Devils didn’t have an enjoyable introduction into the Mackay competition, getting thrashed 48-10 by Carltons at the Mackay Junior Rugby League grounds.
IT WAS A VERY TOUGH ENCOUNTER, VERY BRUISING AND VERY PHYSICAL... I’M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FEW SORE BODIES ON SUNDAY.
ROY BAIRA