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After missing the bulk of the Group 10 premier league season, powerhouse Orange Hawks prop Arty Shead is back.
A former French international, Shead returned from a calf injury in Hawks’ win over Bathurst Panthers last weekend and, with a game under his belt, is set to wreak havoc on CYMS in Sunday’s local derby.
“I’m pretty happy to be back on the paddock,” he said.
“There was some stiffness after last week, but it has pulled up very well. I got through 70 minutes last weekend and I’m hoping to go the full game tomorrow.”
One of Group 10’s most damaging forwards, the 35-year-old wrecking ball said he would unleash all his built-up frustration tomorrow.
“It was tough watching the boys struggle,” he said.
“Being off the field not being able to help your teammates is hugely frustrating. Tomorrow I want to control the middle of the park, and take as many hit-ups as I can to give the boys some go-forward.
“I’ll need to tackle my arse off too.”
Hawks and CYMS could not be in different positions in the lead-up to the clash.
CYMS have lost three consecutive games, while Hawks have drummed up plenty of support with three wins on the trot.
“We can’t let ourselves think about our start to the year, or either team’s last three weeks,” he said. “We’re confident, but we need to focus on executing what we do well, and concentrate on our own game.”
Two blues skipper Tim Mortimer agreed, and said his team needed to maintain its intensity for the entire game tomorrow.
“I think we’re just starting to find our feet,” he said. “Those wins in a row, we weren’t perfect in any of those games. We really need to play for 80 minutes if we want to give ourselves our best shot [tomorrow].
“It’d be great to get four in a row, but we’ll concentrate on ourselves and see how we go.”
Kick-off between Hawks and CYMS is scheduled for 2pm at Wade Park.
ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Joe Lasagavibau, 2 Justin Howarth, 3 Jared Brodrick, 4 Brock McGarity, 5 Alofi Mataele, 6 Tim Mortimer, 7 Keegan Harding, 8 Arty Shead, 9 Mitchl Hurford, 10 Chris Anau, 11 Lawrence Fogg, 12 Kyle Byrnes, 13 Travis Bubb.