With just five games left in the GrainCorp Cup Northern Division regular season Molong looks like the only team capable of taking down the juggernaut that is the undefeated Geurie Goats, but they do still have one other hurdle they’re yet to jump.
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That hurdle is Coolah, the only side to have clipped the second-placed Magpies’ wings in 2018.
The Magpies remain four points adrift of the competition-leading Goats, who they drew with, but if they had been on the other side of that thrilling 29-28, round three defeat to the Roos they’d almost certainly be on level pegging with Geurie – potentially even in front.
Although that loss was on the road and the Magpies were hammered by injuries that week, Molong coach Pete Evans says redemption will still be in the the forefront of his troops’ minds when they welcome the Roos to the Dr Ross Memorial Recreation Ground – known simply as The Rec – on Saturday afternoon.
“Definitely, we want to get over the top of them and I think it’ll be a different story this weekend to when we went over there to play,” Evans said.
“I know Coolah has won on the road which is a big thing for them but I still don’t think they’ll be as strong travelling, no side ever really is.”
It still won’t be easy though, not with the Roos sitting third, but the Magpies will virtually be at full-strength this weekend, a huge boost.
Evans highlighted control at the set-piece as a massive factor for his side against the Roos. If the Magpies execute at the scrum and lineout, they’ll be able to unleash their electrifying backline, led by Central West gun Zac White and speedster Hugh Westcott.
“That’s the plan. Coolah has a good scrum and we’re probably still lacking a little bit there, so we’ll need to work hard to control our own ball,” Evans said.
“When you look at it we’ve got a good forward pack, there’s just a bit of inexperience in the front row which we’re working on.
“If we can do that, I’m pretty confident we can get the result.”
Kick off at The Rec is at 3.15pm.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
