By PETER ROWE
Player-coach Duane Butler is expecting a bruising encounter when his Fremantle Roosters meet South Perth Lions at Treeby Oval on Saturday afternoon in the Fuel to Go & Play Premiership game of the round.
“Crash and bash for sure,” Butler told NRLWA Media. ‘Every game against South Perth is tough and very physical. I’m expecting to be sore on Sunday morning.”
Butler will be without forward Gethin Thomas (injury) and centre Joe Pouhila (working) but has confidence in his senior group to ensure any players stepping up from reserves will be ready for what lies ahead.
“It’s definitely going to be a physical game and they have players like Kade McDonald, Eddie Proudler and Daniel Green in their side, but we have made it non-negotiable this season that we win every home game.
“This weekend is a challenge for sure but if we keep to our structures and complete then there is no reason why we can’t come away with a win.”
The key talking point will be Harry Debique facing his former club for the first time.
“Harry has been exceptionally for us this year and I’m sure he will deliver again,” Butler added.
Fortez Williams comes in for Thomas in the forwards, partnering with Ezra Taomia with Delane Edwards and Ishmael Leilua in the halves.
South Perth coach John Crawford is waiting on a fitness test on Luke-David Wells-Talamaivao (sternum injury) before naming his side, but will be without centre Corban Daniels, who is away working.
“It’s going to be a physical game for sure,” Crawford said. “Fremantle are a top three side and so are we, so we just need to play for more than 40 minutes to win.”
A few kilometres north west reigning premiers Willagee Bears will hope to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they entertain Ellenbrook.
The Rabbitohs are hot off a good win at Rockingham in Round 5 but coach Daniel Manning knows this week is a very different proposition.
“I was really excited to see us get our first win last weekend, but you are right, Willagee are the current frontrunners and we know they will punish us if we make any errors.”
The Bunnies will make a couple of changes to their side, but most, despite being a bit sore from Round 5, are raring to go again.
“If we control what we know we can, then we’ll be OK,” Manning said.
“Stay in the grind early, compete our sets and no missed tackles, that’s the message that has gone out to our boys.
We’re a new team and we’re improving every week.”
The Bears will be without captain Kainoa Gudgeon for the game, so coach Nelson Davis plans to make a couple of tactical changes to his line-up, knowing that as per only unbeaten side in the competition there is a target on his teams back.
Tadgh McNamara and Jono Sarader are in line to make their debuts for the club.
“We have to be careful we don’t start taking things for granted,” Davis said. “It’s easy to get complacent, but I always remind the boys that it was not too long ago that we were at the the other end of the ladder.”
This will be the first ever premiership clash between these two sides and Davis is aware that Ellenbrook will arrive at Webber Reserve confident after their win over the Sharks, wanting to keep the momentum going.
“Ellenbrook are a bit of an unknown to us, they had a great win last week, so we must treat them with respect,” he said.
North Beach Sea Eagles are the only side in the competition without a win so far this season and coach Marty Collis is keen to tick that box this weekend when the Kwinana Titans visit Blueforce Park.
Ben Wells-Talamaivao returns from suspension and halfback Curtis Everett should be OK after suffering an HIA against Rockingham two weeks ago.
“We still have no Bowman Stein and Mackenzie Martin, but if we can cut out our errors and capitalise on this the opposition might make, then we’ll be fine,” Collis said.
The Sea Eagles had a solid first half against Rockingham and a good second period against South Perth. If they can combine both halves into one game they will be on the right track.
“We have a lot of very good youngsters who are still adjusting to senior football and first grade in particular,” Collis said.
“Stepping up can take time and they are learning with every game. Skill errors are letting them down but experience will hopefully iron that out.
“Getting use to the speed and the physicality of first grade is also a challenge.
“I’m expecting Kwinana to come out fired up early and if they take a lead and get on a roll then they will be hard to stop.
“We have to match them in energy, be on the front foot and control the tempo of the game.”
Fresh from their first win of the season against Kwinana last week, Joondalup Giants will be hoping for another two points when Kalamunda Bulldogs visit Admiral Park.
Joel Irvine is out with a knee injury, as is forward Steve Hanson so Jo Jo Ranger steps in along with Ritchie Herangi.
“A few sore bodies from last week but we are focused and ready,” coach Matt Gowland said.
“Kalamunda are a well organised side and of course they have Soni Langi in the halves so we need to keep an eye on him.
“I have watched their previous games, they are dangerous.”
Duane Gwiazdzinski was excited with his team’s win at Rockingham but knows there is still plenty of work to be done.
“It’s going to be an evenly matched game,” he said.
Reagan Howley returns from a hand injury but backrowers Ceejay Patelesio and Stan Tuipulatu will be missing.
“We have to get back on the horse after last week’s defeat at Willagee. I am expecting it to be physical so we need to keep our shape and be patient.
“We have played for 20 or so minutes per game really well up to this point of the season, but we need to push that out if we are to be in contention and our forwards will have to match theirs if we are to come away with a win.”
