KEEP it simple will be the message from Kangaroos captain-coach Adam Hall to the struggling team on Sunday.
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Faced with a desperation game against Gundagai at Equex Centre, Hall is intent on Roos adopting game plan that works so well for the Tigers.
“I think we have to beat them (Gundagai) at their own game,” Hall said.
“We have to get into the grind just the way they do.
“We did it so well last week for the first 25 minutes.
“We were playing up the middle, but then started to throw the ball around when we didn’t need to.”
A week ago, Kangaroos and Temora scored a try each in the opening 30 minutes to be level 6-all before the Dragons blasted on three tries in six minutes to be up 24-6 at halftime.
Hall is adamant the no frills approach that worked so well in the early part of the game went out the door later.
“We can create things but we have to get on a roll first,” he said.
“That’s what we were doing, but all of a sudden we started to play fancy football.
“We’ve got to learn to grind out the game the way Gundagai can.
“The points will come.”
The Tigers are renowned for using their forwards to great advantage to set a platform for the backs.
And Hall wants Roos to copy the script for a clash that he knows could kill off the chances of the team of making the finals.
Already three wins (six points) out of the top five, Roos could fall completely off the pace if they don’t spring a massive upset on Sunday.
“We’ve got to winning,” he said.
“Sunday would definitely be the perfect time to start winning.
“We’re already giving the top five a big start.”
Roos are currently eighth on the ladder, while Gundagai is fourth and coming off hollow victories over Cootamundra (52-0), Tumbarumba (46-0) and Tumut (54-6) in the past three weeks.
In contrast, Roos have crashed to Southcity (36-26), Young (40-12), Albury (24-18) and Temora (36-18) in successive games.
After missing the loss to the Dragons with a calf muscle injury, Hall is confident of playing on Sunday, but Roos have a fitness query over Troy Barby and Kade MacDonald.
Significantly, Hall has thrown out the welcome mat to Group 20 referee Barry Pickens before the showdown with Gundagai.
As much as the appointment of Pickens may raise some eyebrows, Hall definitely has no issues with the decision.
“I’ll be actually interested to see how Group 20 referees interpret things (rules),” Hall said on Tuesday.
“I’m fine with it (decision).”
Pickens, who has been drafted in for the Wagga cameo as part of a referee exchange program, is little known in Group Nine.
Hall will obviously be keen for his team to improve their discipline after copping a 10-1 penalty backlash in the loss to Temora.
It has been a tough week for Gundagai with the tragic accident surrounding popular under 16s player Lui Polimeni.