Eagles not fazed by season opener

FACING Valleys at their home fortress on a Saturday night is not the way many would choose to start a new Toowoomba Rugby League season.

But Highfields Eagles coach Dan Sparksman says his team is relishing the chance to launch its 2014 premieship campaign against the perennial high-flying Roosters at Herb Steinohrt Oval tonight.

“It’s probably a good thing,” Sparksman said about his team’s testing first-up assignment.

“It’s a good test for us and a good gauge to see where we are at physically at the start of the season.

“I’m quite confident we’ll perform strongly.

“We’ve lost a lot of players from last year and we’ve had to rebuild.

“Unfortunately we’ve lost a couple of players this week as well because of personal commitments, but we have plenty of depth.

“We are more than happy with the 17 players we’ve named tomorrow night

“As I said, we’re confident going in against Valleys who have been the benchmark for years.

“But whatever we do this week, we’ll keep improving on as the season builds.

“After some reasonable trial performances, the boys just want to go out and get started tomorrow night.”

Tonight’s match begins a testing start to the season for Valleys.

The 2013 premiership runners-up face last year’s finalists Pittsworth, Souths, Gatton and Wattles in coming weeks.

We’re confident going in against Valleys who have been the benchmark for years.

– Highfields coach Dan Sparksman