Ben Jeffery has declared himself fit to tackle Albury on Saturday when both teams’ finals aspirations go on the line.
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Taking on his former club needing to win to play finals, the Kangaroos captain-coach won’t be held back by a calf complaint.
“It will be right,” Jeffery said. “I will be right.”
While he will take his place at Equex Centre, it isn’t all good news for Kangaroos.
They will be without second rower Troy Barby for the clash after he broke two ribs in the win over Brothers last week.
Hurting himself in the last 10 minutes, the 21-year-old is disappointed to be missing out on one of the most important games of the year.
However he has faith it won’t be their last
“Hopefully the boys can get the win,” Barby said.
“We haven’t got too bad a team and I really think we can win.”
After missing out of last season with a knee injury, Barby had been pleased with things were progressing this season.
“I done my knee last year and had pretty much the whole season,” he said.
“(But) I’ve been pretty lucky as far as major injuries, there is the niggling injuries you get along the way, but it has been good.”
Jeffery also believes Barby’s absence is a big blow for their chances.
“It is going to be a massive loss for us,” he said.
“He’s been our best player all season.
“He does over 20 hit ups and over 30 tackles a game.
“We are definitely going to miss him up the middle and he has a bit of ball playing skill up the middle too which is good.
“It is definitely going to hurt us.”
While Nick Baker was named to start in the front row, Jeffery won’t push the young forward to play following an ankle injury.
“He tried to play last week and he couldn’t even run on it,” he said.
“We will let him decide, it is completely up to him, but I am not going to pressure him into playing as it is a pretty serious injury.”
While Jeffery should know the Thunder better than most he doesn’t see it is a factor heading into the crucial clash.
Instead he’s looking for Kangaroos to bring a more controlled performance following a sloppy, but crucial, win over Brothers last week.
“There is nothing like that, I’m just focused on us,” Jeffery said.
“Whoever we play each week is the same, there is no extra anything we just want to go in, win and try and make the finals.
“From all reports they played really tough on the weekend and were just a bit unlucky.
“A couple of drop balls cost them so we are definitely expecting a really tough game.
“They have some big bodies, good players and we will need to be