Kangaroos have it all to play for against Southcity on Saturday.
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Not only is it a clash between the cross town rivals that Kangaroos need to win to stay in the thick of the finals race, but now they’ve added more spice.
The two teams will play off for the Noel Murray Memorial Cup.
Murray played with South Sydney and also won premierships with both Kangaroos and Turvey Park.
Two of Murray’s grandsons, Dylan and Tyson McLachlan, are the halves for Kangaroos and following his death in March the cup was created to coincide with the indigenous game.
Tyson is back from an ankle injury for the clash and can’t wait to run out onto Equex Centre in the special jumper made in his honour.
“These jumpers mean the world to us now,” Tyson said.
“Running out in this guernseys will mean everything.”
They are hoping it will be part of a big day for their family and the club.
Kangaroos are currently seventh and following their loss to Cootamundra are two wins outside the top four.
After missing the past fortnight, McLachlan is itching to help the side to a repeat of their last game against the Bulls.
Kangaroos scored their first win in eight seasons over the premiers in May, and it gives them confidence they can topple the ladder leaders once more.
“It is a big game but we have done it once before so there is no reason why we can’t do it again,” Tyson said.
“If we go in there with confidence I don’t see any reason why we can’t get the job done.”
He thought the ruck will be key and is looking for a better defensive effort.
Kangaroos strung together three wins in a row in the middle of the season but have lost three of their last four since.
Coach Ben Jeffery is chasing a more consistent performance.
“It’s a special occasion and hopefully we can get out there and play some decent footy,” Jeffery said.
“We are way too inconsistent – good one game, average the next – so it has been a bit frustrating.”
Jeffery is wary of the threat posed by the Bulls.
They’ve only lost twice this season and have won their last five games.
“We need to be good or they get 50 points put on us,” he said. “Southcity are starting to play some really good footy and we are going to have to play decent to give ourselves a chance of winning the game.”
Roos leaguetag will also wear Indigenous inspired jumpers as they look to keep themselves in the hunt for finals. Percentage is all that keeps them outside the four.