THE First Grade Cherrypickers are looking to bag their second win of the season tomorrow as they take on a side considered similar to their own.
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Like Young, the Wagga Kangaroos have been up and down in their performances this season, having recorded one win and two losses ahead of Round 5.
Young captain-coach Neil Thorman hopes his side can take advantage of those statistics to bump the eighth-placed ‘Pickers up the Group Nine ladder.
“It’s very crucial we get a win this weekend,” he said.
“From the table we have the potential of moving up into a playoff position where we wanted to be at the start of the season to be in a more comfortable position when semis come round at the end of the year.”
Although he’s not in denial of the ‘Roos’ strong Round 4 performance.
“They had a decent performance last weekend but just got pipped by a strong South City team in a 10-point defeat,” he said.
“But on the back of our last performance we’ve got a lot of confidence going into this game offensively and defensively with just letting four points in against Tumut and obviously scoring 10 tries in one game.
“It should be a decent game.”
Thorman has again asked for energy and enthusiasm from his team ahead of tomorrow’s game, something the side enforced well against Tumut in Round 4.
“We completed our sets a lot better and from our kicks it either led to a try, a good defensive set or a repeat set,” he said.
“We need to enforce that against Kangaroos and have a bit more of a professional and complete performance against them also.
“Kyle Richens and Aaron Slater do such a good job in terms of offering aggression and inspiring players around them with the want they have for the ball, we need to continue with that impact against the Kangaroos.”
While Thorman was pleased with his team’s performance on the weekend, unavoidable changes must be made in order to compensate for the loss of star recruit, Mitch Sullivan.
Ross Hewitt will again start on the bench, along with Will Scott and Jaydn Cowled. The fourth position was yet to be decided at time of print.
“[Ross] brought energy and he also scored, that’s what I always look for from our players on the bench, bringing energy to the team,” Thorman said.
“I always look for that impact from all replacements.”
Strength will also come in the form of New Zealand recruit Denvour Kiel who was named in this week’s Group Nine Team of the Week. It was deserving recognition for the 20-year-old who set up a full length of the field try, and also produced a sensational finish (pictured).
“He looked great with the ball in his hand in open field and also created space with good footwork.”
Tomorrow’s match will be played at McDonalds Park, Wagga to commence at 2.30pm. It will be aired on WaggaTV.
