By PETER ROWE
After a break to savour Origin and the NRL in Perth the NRLWA Fuel to Go and Play Premiership resumes this weekend with three games that could help to determine playoff spots in a few weeks time.
The pick of the round sees second-place North Beach Sea Eagles host the Willagee Bears at Charles Riley Reserve, as the home side look to keep the pressure on current ladder leaders South Perth.
But the Sea Eagles will be without both fullback Bailey Millar and hooker Kobi Aiesi through injury, forcing coach Phil Douché to leave his team selection until the last minute.
Millar will be out for up to five weeks after undergoing surgery this week on his nose – an injury he picked up against Joondalup a few weeks ago, and Aiesi is out with a foot injury that requires rest.
“A bit of a blow but we have some depth to cover,” Douché said.
“Bailey has a compression of the bone injury so the surgery is better now than later and Kobi’s foot injury needs pain management to calm the area down.”
Bailey Millar will be missing after surgery / Photo – Total Sports Photography
Youngster Tom Sinclair could also be out for a few weeks after sustaining a knee injury in training, but Douché is confident either Riley Bradley or Jaylen Grey can slot into the fullback role.
Forward Shane Gillham is getting married in Bali, so is unavailable, as is one of his groomsmen Kalum Gulliver Brown.
“It is what it is,” Douché said.
“A few out but we will be OK. Everyone else is fit and we had a great mid-season player assessment session last week, where everyone had a say.”
Douché knows it will not be an easy game – one that will kick-off a little later than usual at 4.30pm.
“I’ve watched their game against Fremantle so know they will be a threat,” he said.
“We will have to work to counteract their strengths.”
Bears coach Nelson Davis still has a few injury worries but is confident ahead of the game.
Tamaho Teirney is missing through injury and big winger Saimoni Qaranivalu is a 50-50, but Davis has plenty of firepower in his forwards to set a platform for his backs.
Tamaho Teirney also out for a stint / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“Beach are the one team we have not beaten this season, so it’s a game we want to win,” Davis said.
“We’ve had a great week off and now it’s back to business.
“The break has freshened us up, and we now have to believe. If we can dominate then. We have change, but they are a very good side with ability to squeeze you then shift it wide.”
Davis will look to Malakai Chan Boon and Jackson Hansen to provide that plartform, with the ever dangerous Kainoa Gudgeon breaking the line.
“It’s going to be a great game,” Davis added. “Both sides will want to win.”
At George Burnett Park South Perth will be hoping to continue their superb early season form as they host Fremantle.
It’s not been the best of seasons so far for the Roosters, but coach Duane Butler is back in the lineup, looking to get his side back to winning ways.
Duane Butler keen to get back to winning ways / Photo – Total Sports Photography
“It’s been a tough season, but we have a very competitive lineup this week and my message to the players has been that we need to get that win to keep pace with the teams above us,” Butler said.
“We pushed them close the last time we met, and then fell short in the last few minutes, so we have to be focused for the whole 80 minutes.”
The Lions kicked a drop goal seconds before the siren in their last clash and Butler doesn’t want that to happen again.
“We have to forget about previous results and be ready for this game,” he added.
“Turning up for each other on game day with high energy. No switching off and be mentally tough out there.”
Butler has a few returning players, from injury and Fifo and said there club would be competitive in all three grades.
“If there is one message I can send to the other teams out there is ‘we’re not done yet’,” he said.
“We will be competitive and we need to grind out some results and be there come the finals.”
South Perth coach Duane Gwiazdzinski still has a few injury headaches but will pick a strong side for the game.
“We’re up for it,” he said defiantly.
“Soni (Langi) is back and Riley Captein will come off the bench. Unfortunately Ethan (Gourgaud) and Tim (Noble) are still a few weeks away from returning but we are building a good crop of players at the club and it bodes well for the future.”
Mason Hiko is away for work / Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
Harry Kendell is another returnee to the side, but forward Mason Hiko is away working and Corbin Daniels is nursing a sore hamstring.
“Fremantle are good side who play some attractive football. They pushed us all the way the last time we met, so we will have to be at our best,” Gwiazdzinski said.
At Admiral Park the Joondalup Giants and the Rockingham Sharks meet in a game both teams are desperate to win to boost confidence after a slow start.
The Giants lost out to the Sea Eagles in round 9 after a solid first half performance and it was a similar result at Rockingham, where the Sharks kept the Lions at bay before the visitors stepped up a gear.
Sharks coach Pete Worth gave his young side a few days off over the Origin week, but they were back in full training mode on Tuesday.
“I wanted my young players to refresh and come back ready for the challenge,” Worth said.
“They trained well and we have Woody (centre Kendre Wood) back and Lochy Christy is going well at hooker.
The Sharks juniors are having a massive dig / Photo – Rockingham Sharks
“We have a couple out so a few changes to make.”
Worth knows his team has to manage the game if they are to take home the points.
“Taurean (Sheehan) and Gus (Marshall) are their key players. Young Tiger Williams is also going well.
“But if we can control Taurean’s time with the ball then we will be in the hunt.
“They have also had challenges this season like us, but got a good win at Willagee so both sides will want a good back end of the season.”
Danger man Sheehan knows the game is important for both teams.
“I think it will be a close game and we’re both in a similar position,” he said.
“We’ve both got young players who we want to grow with the assistance of some of older guys.”
Mitch Haggart, River Colman and Slade Long return to the side with Christian Smith, Payden Porter and Trent Lawrence dropping out.
Christian Smith cameo at MND Round / Photo – Dave Van Heek
The Giants trained well this week and spoke about previous games where they fell short. Looking at elements of their game they can improve on.
“We’ve been solid in games for the first 40, but we have to make that 80 minutes.” Sheehan said.