By PETER ROWE
It will be a battle of the young guns at Blueforce Park on Saturday when North Beach Sea Eagles take on the Rockingham Sharks in Round 4 of the Fuel to Go & Play Premiership.
Both teams have turned to youth this season with the Sea Eagles having lost a lot of the side that made finals in 2025.
And both are carrying injuries that will force coaches to test their squad depths.
Beach though will have veteran Justin Buckley returning which will give coach Marty Collis options in his 13/9 rotation and young and exciting centre Latrell Chase also returns to the side.
Photo – Total Sports Photography
“We have a few out injured,” Collis confirmed. “Bowman (Stein) is another week away with a troublesome hamstring, fullback Braydon Worley could miss another 2-3 weeks and Harry Wecker is in a similar position.
“But it is what is, so a few changes and it will definitely be a test of our depth.”
Sharks coach Reece Potter faces a similar challenge after losing his right edge to injury last week in the loss to Kalamunda.
Centre Samuel Tawamacala has an ankle problem and winger Ben Cottam and impressive backrower Ashton Hure are also in doubt.
“We’ve lost a few but that’s footy,” Potter said.
“I’m leaving team selection late to see who comes through on Friday OK, but Beach is always a tough place to go. They have a loud home support from their old boys and we will need to play like we did in the first half last week for a full 80 minutes.”
Photo – Total Sports Photography
Potter spent time with his squad after training on Tuesday to talk about his time as a player (over 100 first grade games), captain and now coach of the team to, as he put it, “to put some pride in wearing the jersey.”
“It was a positive meeting and we are all on the same page,” he added.
At Treeby Oval injuries are also a concern for Fremantle player-coach Duane Butler. After their big win over the Sea Eagles in Round 3, Butler has confirmed he will be missing seven or eight first team players for the visit of the Joondalup Giants.
“A lot of soft tissue injuries,” Butler told NRLWA media this week.
Prop Gethin Thomas could miss a few weeks after copping an unintentional stray boot to the eye last weekend and fellow forward Richie Hicks is struggling with a back injury.
“We’ve also lost Roydon Gillett with a hammy, as well as three other hamstring issues and two rib injuries,” Butler said.
Photo – Total Sports Photography
“It’s very frustrating, We train well and players look after themselves, but we are still carrying a lot of sore bodies.”
Butler will look at his reserve squad to see who can step up to face the Giants, focussing on a wing spot and a couple of bench places.
“I know it might hurt the reserves chances but we have to do it,” he said. “We do have a big injured list right now and I don’t want to risk bringing players back too soon either as it is only Round 4 and there’s a long season ahead of us.”
Butler knows the visitors will be fresh and fired up after the bye last week, something that worries him.
“They will be wanting something from this game, so we have to be ready for that. And whilst it is only Round 4 we still want to win it.”
Giants coach Matt Gowland used the bye to place a couple of his young players in the reserves side that took on Alkimos.
“I wanted to get them some game time and see what they could achieve,” he said.
With 48 at training on Tuesday evening there is plenty of desire within his squad and with veterans Taurean Sheehan and Mitch Achurch fit again, Gowland is hoping for a result.
Photo – Dave Van Heek
“They are great leaders on the field, so that’s a big positive,” he said.
“Fremantle are a good side. They are solid in the middle and then Delane (Edwards) can quickly shift to the centres and out wide, so we have to be alert for that. It will be test for sure.”
Kalamunda travel to Wellard Oval to face Kwinana in a game that sees both sides coming off impressive wins last week.
The Dogs will be without Josef Gwiazdzinski, Christian Bavadra and possibly Josh Ngapuhi with coach Duane Gwiazdzinski knowing it could be a tough encounter.
“It was great getting the win at the Sharks last weekend but we only really played about 25 minutes of football,” he said.
“We need to up that and start a lot quicker. We were slow at the beginning and got caught out. Concentration for 80 minutes is key.”
Gwiazdzinski though praised his side for their down-to-earth attitude. “No egos, everyone buying in, we have good culture at the club and everyone wants to contribute,” he said.
Titans player-coach Lewis Samuels has this week managed to ensure his players are not getting too carried away with their win last weekend, knowing that this week is another step forward for the club.
Photo – Kwinana Titans Facebook
’Yeah, it was a good win, but one win doesn’t make a season,” Samuels said.
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
Forward Anthony Russell looks like being out for a while after hyper-extending his knee against the Bunnies but everyone else, Samuels said, is ready for the next challenge.
“They have strong middles and it could come down to who controls the ruck,” Samuels added.
“And we know they have a very good halfback in Soni Langi. So we will have to work hard to limit his options and close down the space in front of him.”
Wellard will again host this game as the club works with their local council to complete upgrades to the facility, hoping to move back to Thomas Oval for Round six.
Ellenbrook coach Dan Manning knows his team has to set up against South Perth after last week’s loss to Kwinana, and he has seen enough in training this week to believe that will happen.
“A much better attitude this week,” he said. “We’ve talked about the loss and everyone is hungry to put it right.”
Prop Nick Pratten will miss out as he recovers from a shoulder injury and lock Slade Long is also sidelined with a bicep injury.
“South Perth have a strong forward pack and plenty of leaders, so we will have to be ready for that,” Manning said.
“Any team with the likes of Daniel Green and Eddie Proudler in their ranks is going to be dangerous.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“And with Kade McDonald in the halves they have strike power. Greenie drives them forward and McDonald directs the back line.
“But from our point of view It will be a different side with a different attitude running out on Saturday afternoon.”
Lions coach John Crawford knows his side has to aim up on defence – something they didn’t do against Willagee last week.
“Everyone was disappointed with our performance last week, we’re spoken about it and we know we have to be more connected when defending. Stick in our tackles and stay together,” he said.
“Ellenbrook will be wanting to do better than last week, so I’m expecting them to come at us from the start.
“We have to be ready for that. We have spent most of the week working on defence. I’m pretty happy with our attack. Kade (McDonald) and Billy Judge can be dangerous with ball in hand.”
James Elliott and Sam Javapro are both suspended and Crawford expects late fitness tests on a couple of players still nursing a few bruises but veterans Daniel Green and Eddie Proudler will lead the team.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green