Goannas Plotting To Take Care Of Briggs

Newcastle Herald

Saturday May 13, 2006

By JAMES GARDINER

CESSNOCK coach Steve Storrie has pinpointed limiting the impact of livewire halfback Scott Briggs as the key to beating Macquarie at Peacock Field tomorrow.

Briggs will feed the scrum for Newcastle against Southern Division at Nowra today and has been named on the bench for the Scorpions.

But as long as he comes through today's match OK, Storrie expects the the former Canberra Raider to be heavily involved.

"He is in great form and if you give him time, he will bamboozle the defence," Storrie said.

"It's vital that we get up on him and limit his space.

"But we can't afford to rush up one out. If you do that, he is so quick, he can find a gap and is away.

"We need to hunt up in a line and stop their forwards from getting momentum."

Former Knight Robbie O'Davis has been named to return from a rib injury at fullback for the Scorpions and adds punch to a back line that already boasts Jacob Briggs, Julian Bailey, Chris Swan and Jay Bolton.

"I watched them beat Wests in round three and they were awesome," Storrie said.

"Their form has dropped a bit in the past couple of weeks, but they are so dangerous. They can hurt you from anywhere."

The Goannas went down 17-6 to West last round, ending a five-game winning streak.

They have been boosted today by the return of barnstorming prop Peter Jensen, but injury clouds hang over halfback Kane Bradley and lock Troy Petrysen.

"It is an important game for us," Storrie said.

"We need a win to stay in front of Macquarie and we also can't afford to let Nelson Bay and Raymond Terrace slip away at the top.

"We won't change things too much. Our game is pretty simple. We try and complete our sets and plug away."

Western Suburbs will start hot favourites against Maitland at Harker Oval tomorrow, but they can expect anything but a walk in the park against the Pumpkin Pickers.

Maitland may be winless and sit a distant last, but the results have not been a true reflection of their efforts.

Of their eight defeats they have had a bye the Pickers have lost six games by less than 10 points.

They led competition leaders Nelson Bay 26-8 at half-time last round only to be run down 34-26.

Led by Knights trio Danny Vaughan (prop), Blake Tremain-Cannon (five-eighth) and Aaron Hartmann (centre) the Pickers will be at full strength for the first time this season.

Grand finalists last season, West have struggled for consistency and sit just outside the top five on eight points.

In the other match tomorrow, Central Charlestown take on Lakes United at St John Oval.

The clash between Raymond Terrace and South Newcastle at Metaland Park has been brought forward a day to kick-off at 6pm tonight.

The Magpies will again be without Owen Craigie, whose stint at the Terrace appears over after he did not turn up to training on Thursday because of business interests.

In the other match tonight, Nelson Bay tackle Wyong at Tomaree Oval.

NEWCASTLE RUGBY LEAGUE

W L B D F A P

BLUES 6 2 0 0 230 186 12

TERRACE 5 2 1 0 164 140 10

CESSNOCK 5 2 1 0 116 114 10

MACQUARIE 4 2 1 1 208 134 9

LAKES 3 2 1 2 179 133 8

KURRI 3 4 0 1 178 188 7

WEST 3 4 1 0 180 174 6

WYONG 2 4 0 2 173 177 6

SOUTH 2 3 1 2 136 158 6