Tahs in for helluva ride in effort to beat Saints
NTFL purists say the Waratahs-St Marys rivalry was born at Gardens Oval 36 years ago, when both clubs played off in a classic grand final.
Waratahs upset the odds that day when they beat St Marys in front of a red and white-clad Queen Elizabeth 2.
But today’s clash at the spiritual home of Territory football should be a bit more predictable.
St Marys have won 25 games in a row since losing to the Central Australian Redtails in Round 1 of last season, while Brenton Toy’s Tahs side are constructing the foundations of a league side that will serve them for the next decade.
Subduing the Saints forward line is Plan A for Toy and his brains trust, particularly the twin towers of Peter MacFarlane and Justin van Unen, who have destroyed opposition back lines in recent weeks.
Van Unen’s 22 goals in his two matches make him a dangerous proposition for Tahs defenders Josh Chaplin and Justin Beugelaar, while the spectre of MacFarlane marking anything his teammate does not looms large.
More food for thought among the Tahs brains trust is the return of Karl Lohde to the following division alongside ball magnet Mark McLean and hard nut Justin Wilson.
Ben Rioli returns to Saints’ halfback line to add more run and vision to the class of Iggy Vallejo and determination of Jack Long.
First- year Saints coach Rick Nolan wants the maximum effort from his players despite a six-game winning streak that has them two games clear of everyone else.
‘‘Records mean nothing to me,’’ Nolan said.
‘‘What I want is a consistency among the playing group and more improvement as the season goes on,’’ he said.
‘‘Our ball movement and work ethic have been very good so far and even at Gardens, where the space is not as much as Marrara, I expect that trend to continue.’’
Saints will be without injured pair Raphael Clarke and Henry Kerinaiua but their replacements and great desire to win should ensure plenty of ball supply to van Unen and MacFarlane.
Waratahs should get plenty of supply from their newlook centreline of Patrick Heenan, Ben Mahon and Jake Farrell and beanpole ruckman Tom Marsh will give his opponent Steven Miles plenty of contests.