Just as they learned coach Gavin McMahon was stepping down at the end of the year, East Wagga-Kooringal were rocked by the worst possible prognosis on Tim Smith’s injured knee.
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The reliable full-back requires a knee reconstruction after injuring himself in the third quarter of last week's loss to Marrar.
“He’s done a full tear of his ACL, the poor bugger,” McMahon said of the premiership defender.
“He’s a big loss, the big fella. His speed, and strength and ability to attack the footy – he’s got everything you want in a full-back and he’s been holding up that backline along with (Trent Garner) and Brenton Roberts for most of the year.”
The trusty Joel Stankiewicz comes in at full-back for Saturday’s game against Barellan, while Jake Robinson returns from suspension.
“We certainly need Jake back,” McMahon said. “He’s had his rest for being a bit silly and we definitely need him back in there. He gives us such good drive and penetration, we missed him.”
The Hawks are fifth on percentage from the Northern Jets and Charles Sturt University after last week’s loss to the league’s top side.
But McMahon wasn’t too disheartened at the outcome.
“Oh look, I think we went from getting done by 10 goals and not winning a quarter last time we played them, to winning two quarters and losing by three goals,” he said.
“And that was giving away two or three goals with undisciplined acts.”
The Bombers can do the Hawks a favour this week, if they knock over the Bushpigs at Peter Hastie Oval. While the Jets are at North Wagga.
