Mitchell’s know- how
TOWNSVILLE Blackhawks rake Anthony Mitchell has won a Queensland Cup premiership with the Mackay Cutters, and he knows what to expect this weekend.
The Blackhawks travel to Australia’s sugarcane capital on Saturday for what Mitchell believes could be a litmus test for his team’s new- found form following last weekend’s 26- 16 win over Redcliffe.
“It’s difficult to get back a win after having a few losses in a row, particularly when you’re not playing a good brand of footy,” Mitchell said.
“We just went straight for the source, trained hard and that’s going to be our job again this week.
“We built a real resilience last year and we had a real pride in our line, and ( last weekend) we showed that.”
Confidence is high among the Blackhawks but Mackay are backing up from an equally gutsy win, having edged Wynnum- Manly 20- 14 at home.
The Blackhawks are not expecting the same lopsided contest that took place when the teams last clashed at Jack Manski Oval in March, which the Blackhawks won 60- 12.
“It’s going to be a big game,” Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf said.
“Mackay will be really steeling themselves from their last performance against us earlier in the year and that tends to bring the best out in teams.
“One thing I know about Mackay and Cairns is one, it’s a rivalry, but two, we’re the only team in the competition that has to sit on a bus for five hours more than once in a year.
“It is a really tough thing to be able to do, to jump on a bus, travel down there and play that day against a team that’s playing with some real energy.
“It’s just something we have to deal with and we will deal with it ... I’ve got no doubt we’ll come away with another tough win.”
Mitchell said the impact of last weekend’s drought- breaking win, which came after their club record 42- 4 defeat against PNG in Port Moresby, could not be underestimated. “It was huge,” he said. “Our fans turn up week- in, week- out regardless of our wins and losses, but to show them that we are working hard and we are working to get those wins was a big part of our agenda.
“We train hard enough, we just have to get boys believing in themselves that they’re good enough.
“That was the case last weekend, and when we had to reshuffle with Samsen ( O’Neill) going off ... we made the changes and addressed it.”
Blackhawks contracted players Halvor Harris and Ross Bella have again pushed their Q Cup cases after gaining selection in the Queensland Rangers team to play the NSW Ron Massey Cup team on June 25.
The pair will help provide welcome selection headaches in the wake of prop Sam Hoare’s broken hand, which is expected to keep Hoare out of action for up to six weeks.