The Yass Magpies are coming out of the bye week gleaming with confidence after their maiden win over the Belconnen Sharks, but understand this week will be a more challenging task against a formidable Queanbeyan Blues team.
“They’re a good side, we’re looking to carry some momentum from our last win into the game,” coach Luke Berkrey said.
“We have Noel Collins coming back in for his first game of the year which is good. He’s a young kid who had a great pre-season, so we are looking forward to giving him a crack.
“We picked up Jesse Bellchambers mid-year and he’ll come in for his first game as well.
“Noel is a fullback and Jesse will play anywhere through the forwards. He’s going to be a very handy pickup for us as he’s pretty versatile. I’m looking forward to seeing Jesse in a Yass jumper.
“Jesse has come from rugby union from the Royals and he previously played for Belconnen Sharks.
“We picked his brother Seth up as well. Seth had his first game last week against the Sharks and I think it can only help having a set of brothers in the team with the team unity as well. There are a couple of sets of brothers in there, which is good.
“Whilst it adds strength to First Grade, it also adds strength to that Reserve Grade squad as well with players floating between both. We’re looking forward to having a few more numbers back on deck now.
“It just comes with the job. Every team goes through it. It’s just about names. We are no worse off than anyone else. Everyone goes through it. It’s just about trying to find a way and now that we are getting some more numbers on hand it’s about making the most of that when you have got them.
“He definitely will and he’s got some aggression in his game which will only help us as well.
“A player of his quality coming in this time of year, we are rapt to have him.
“They’ve got some pretty exciting players through their team that can score points pretty quick and we are going to have to be careful, especially Dylan McLaughlin and Connor Williams, they are both very good players and they are two we are going to have to watch out for.
“Over the last couple of years, they’ve continued with that pretty strong for-ward pack so we are going to have to do a job on it in the middle to make sure we don’t have to see too much of McLaughlin and Williams.”
Kick-off 3:00 pm Saturday at Seiffert Oval.
Canberra Raiders Cup Ladder.
1. Queanbeyan Kangaroos, 10pts, 162.
2. Queanbeyan Blues, 10pts, 48.
3. West Belconnen War-riors, 9pts, 74.
4. Woden Valley Rams, 7pts, 4.
5. Gungahlin Bulls, 6pts, -12.
6. Belconnen United Sharks, 6pts, -26.
7. Goulburn City Bulldogs, 4pts, -58.
8. Tuggeranong Bushrangers, 2pts, -72.
9. Yass Magpies, 2pts, -120.
-Tully Potts
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