No respect drives Bond

Uni’s resting policy delivers chance for boilover

they have been giving us much respect,” the flyhalf said.

“They might even be resting a couple of players this week just because they have got finals coming up, so it’d be a pretty good opportunity to say we beat the minor premiers.

“I told the boys that (UQ are said to be resting players) and they got fired up a bit. I think the boys will be really focused and amped up.”

Despite being at opposite ends of the table – UQ with 14 wins to Bond’s three – it is the latter who are coming off a big win. Bond smashed Souths 46-15 last weekend while UQ fell 45-42 to GPS.

Third led Bond into battle for the first time in that Souths victory, after the injury-forced omission of regular captain Sam Clifton (back).

Clifton will return via the bench this weekend, meaning Third retains the captaincy – even if it is an honour he hasn’t always aspired to.

The 21-year-old more considers himself as a vice-captain, though his role in No.10 comes with organisational duties.

“Look, if Hedge (coach Sean Hedger) and the boys have confidence in me doing that, I don’t mind,” he said.

Third said it is crucial Bond piece together an 80-minute performance to underpin their hopes of victory – something which Hedger feels is well within reach.

“Even when we played them this year, it was 12-8 at halftime and then we just fell away because of fitness,” Hedger said.

“Well we’re fitter now and we have probably got a better team than last time.

“It’s one of those games where you have got to pay a lot of respect to the opposition but we’re not going to fear them. We have got nothing to lose.”

After taking just seven competition points from the first 13 rounds, Bond have added another 10 to their tally in the past four weeks.

Third said an improved set piece delivering more “frontfoot ball” had driven their turnaround.