Front line losses mar North Wagga

North Wagga will be working to compensate for two players injured in last week’s game.

North Wagga centre half forward Alex Hay injured his ankle and forward flanker Josh Thompson suffered a shoulder injury.

“They’ll definitely be missed,” North Wagga co-coach Nathan Dowdle said.

“Thompson was in career-best form,” Dowdle said.

Dowdle said the team has benefited from his forward-line pressure, and work rate to get out wide.

“We’re going to miss strong contested marks from Alex Hay,” Dowdle said. 

Marrar is well-placed to take the four points having faced two of the toughest teams in the Farrer league lately; fourth-ranked Coleambally and undefeated East Wagga-Kooringal.

Marrar coach Nic Casey is pleased with his team’s efforts last week.

Casey said there were far more positives to draw from the loss than negatives, and the 33 point differential on the scoreboard was not a fair indication of the game.

“For three and a half quarters we were competitive against the best team in the competition,” Casey said.

All 21 players chased and tackled and East Wagga-Kooringal were in trouble at half time.

“Just 10 to 15 minutes of football let us down, we’ll go with same structure [this week] and back ourselves to win,” Casey said.

North Wagga's match fitness has been an asset in recent rounds.

North Wagga edged ahead of the Northern Jets in the final quarter last week, and took advantage of Charles Sturt University from the third quarter in the previous round.

In contrast Marrar has been playing their best football in the first half of the match.

Marrar diminished in the third quarter as East Wagga-Kooringal upped their tackle rate, won the majority of centre clearances and demonstrated effective disposal.

However having watched Marrar defeat The Rock-Yerong Creek, North Wagga co-coach Nathan Dowdle fears they could be evenly matched on fitness this week.

“They’re very fit this year, we’re definitely going to have to be on our best game; willing to win that ball first,” Dowdle said.

Saturday’s game will be vital for North Wagga, placed just ahead of Coleambally and Marrar.

“It’s a massive game for us, if we win we jump a couple of games ahead of the teams below us,” co-coach Kirk Hamblin said.

“Our disposal needs a lot of improvement,” he said after last week’s game.