By PETER ROWE
The battle for fourth spot on the NRLWA Fuel to Go & Play ladder is well and truly under way with all four games this weekend likely to have an effect on the finals line-up next month.
Joondalup Giants come back from the bye to host Fremantle Roosters, Rockingham Sharks meet North Beach Sea Eagles at Franklin Offshore stadium, Kalamunda Bulldogs face up against Kwinana Titans and in-form Ellenbrook go to second-place South Perth Lions.
Just five points separate fourth and eighth, it is that tight with six games of the regular season remaining.
Ellenbrook are currently in the driving seat, but their visit to the Lions will test their ability to stay there.
The Giants and Bulldogs are level on 11 points and both have key home games they will want to win to stay in the chase.
Joondalup coach Matt Gowland knows wins are a must now to earn that playoff chance, but has emphasised on his side the need to stay focused and in control of the football if they are to beat the Roosters.
“Yes, we have our eye on that playoff spot and know we need to perform well and win to stay in the race,” Gowland told NRLWA Media.
“It’s such a fine line between winning and losing. In previous games we have performed well and lost and in others played poorly and won.”
Payden Porter and Trent Lawrence are back, as is Edison Silota and Gowland is hoping his halfback pairing of Lincoln Williams and recent addition Scott O’Brien can nullify the threat Delane Edwards and Ishmael Leilua can pose.
Photo – Dave Van Heek
Englishman O’Brien, who played for Leigh Miners in the UK is Gowland’s calming influence, helping to manage the go forward of the team as well as organising in transition. He also came across Giants legend Taurean Sheehan when Sheehan played for Rochdale some years ago in the same competition.
“He brings a lot of game management experience to our side that I wish we had from Round One,” Gowland said.
“The older heads we now have are balanced well against the youth and vitality of people like Lincoln and Tiger Williams.”
Gowland knows it will not be an easy game. “Fremantle are well organised and will be coming to play for sure,” he said.
“They will know what we are capable of and likewise we know how dangerous they can be.”
Fremantle player-coach Duane Butler had surgery this week on a knee injury, so wasn’t sure as to how his team would line up, but knows it will not be an easy game.
“Joondalup pushed us all the way last time we met, this will not be an easy game,” he said.
“We made too many errors at times last week and clocked off, we can’t afford to do that this weekend.
“There’s a couple back, so a few changes, but mentally we must be in tune and if we do the simple things right then we will be OK.”
Ellenbrook are the team currently occupying fourth spot and coach Dan Manning is fully aware of what his side has to do when they make the trip to George Burnett Park to face the Lions.
“They (South Perth) will be on a high after their tremendous win over Willagee last week, so I’m hoping we can do enough to bring them back down to earth,” Manning said. “But that won’t be easy. South Perth are a very good side and if we are to win we will have keep Kade McDonald quiet.
Photo – Carmel Potter-Green
“I coached him in SG ball with the Pirates, so know how dangerous he can be. He’s playing some great football right now.”
The Bunnies will make a few forced changes to their side, Zion Wetere, Stanley Whyte and Toby Carr are all Fifo workers, so will miss the game and Manning has a couple suffering from flu, so will leave it until Saturday morning before naming his team.
“It’s so tight and competitive that we need to keep winning as the other four teams behind start to try and hunt us down,” Manning admitted.
South Perth coach John Crawford will make a few enforced changes to his side, but is acutely aware that losing this game would undo all the hard work of last week’s win over Willagee.
“Everyone understands that and feet are firmly back on the ground after that win,” he said.
“We cannot afford to take Ellenbrook lightly. They are the form team and will pose a lot of questions. It’s a big game for them as they want to hold on to that fourth spot.”
Forward James Elliott, centre Sisa Waqa and halfback Hohepa Taiatini are all carrying injuries from last week and Luke-David Wells Talamaaivao, Mathius Tomuli-Ah-Khoi are longer-term outs with knocks. Centre Corbyn Daniels is away working.
Crawford knows his side struggled against Joondalup two weeks ago and is keen to avoid that this weekend.
“Joondalup pushed us all the way so we cannot afford to slip up,” he said. “There will be opportunities for players stepping up from reserves to show me what they can do and for us to test our depth.”
Rockingham coach Reece Potter is hoping his young side can continue from their impressive win over Kalamunda last week, when they host North Beach.
Keelyn Tuuta-Edwards has returned to family in Queensland and centre Sam Tawarnacala is working, but half Dave Quinlin returns along with exciting youngster Crockett Henry and Brody Gilchrist.
Photo – Libby McMillan
“We played really well in the first half last week and I want us to repeat that again,” Potter said.
“We only made two errors in that half and we controlled the ball, we just need to do it for 80 minutes.”
“North Beach are like us, a small team but very quick, and we need to be alert to that. Bowman Stein is their danger man, so he is one we will have to watch.
“And as it is the club’s Sponsors Day, we obviously want to get a home win to thank them.”
Beach coach Marty Collis is another who recognises how tight the race for a playoff spot is.
His Sea Eagles side went down to Fremantle last week, but he saw patches of some good play in that defeat.
“We had a good period after halftime where we put them under pressure, but we just couldn’t convert that to points,” he said.
“We can be creative in attack and can ask plenty of questions of the opposition. We just need to come away with something.”
Promising young gun Connor Morris is still missing, so Kallum Gulliver-Brown may continue at hooker and English recruit Jack Whittle has impressed to earn a spot in the forwards.
“The weather may have an influence on how we play the game, but there’s a lot to play for and it’s important at this time the season to get a win.”We’ve prepared really well, so no excuses.”
Kalamunda coach Duane Gwiazdzinski has been disappointed with his side’s recent performances, but knows they need to change that quickly if they are to grab the fourth spot.
“We have dropped off the last three or four games. We’ve been our own worst enemy,” Gwiazdzinski said.
“I’m definitely looking for a response after last week. ‘We’ve talked about it this week and everyone is positive. Our structure is fine, it’s the decision making we have to work on. We had a good 25 minutes against the Sharks, but we need to add to that.”
Winger Steven Bradley is missing through injury, as are Michael Ki and David Butler.
“Kwinana will start strong, so we need to match that from the first whistle,” Gwiazdzinski added.
“We are still a learning team first year back in the premiership, but last week we blew seven tries and we need to convert our chances – and improve defensively.
“It’s really important we finish the season on a high.”
Kwinana coach Lewis Samuels will move back into the halves for the game, after a couple of weeks at lock, and reports his side is still hungry, despite a tough baptism in the top flight.
“The scores don’t reflect the effort from the boys,” he said. “We have a few out, but we will always turn up and compete.
“Kalamunda have lost their last few games so perhaps we can capitalise on that.
“We start games well, we just need to learn how to compete over 80 minutes.”