Stingrays brace for Breakers forward assault
Sunshine Coast Stingrays coach Glen Panoho has labelled the Gold Coast Breakers the most physical forward pack in the competition ahead of their round 14 Premier Rugby encounter at Stockland Park on Sunday (kickoff 2:00pm).
But Panoho insists his troops are prepared for any physical challenges the Breakers may bring after watching his forwards stand up and be counted against the competition leaders, Brothers, last weekend.
“Everyone would probably say they (Gold Coast) are the best forward pack in the comp, so we’ll be out to test just how good it is,” Panoho said.
“Everyone knows how physical they are so, you just have to match that.”
Panoho said he expected the physical nature of the game to be magnified as the rivalry between the two beachside clubs had intensified during recent times.
“There is definitely no love lost between the two sides. It’s going to be a very physical game - it always is,” he said.
“There’s definitely a bit of history there. It is one of those things that has always been there and it adds a bit of spice.”
Breakers coach Tom Rosewarne admitted the club’s culture was built around forward dominance but said it was more than just being physical.
“Our aim at contact is to be aggressive and be physical, but more importantly to be accurate in what we’re doing,” Rosewarne said.
“It is more about that than bash-and-crash. We’ve grown past that sort of approach.
“We have some players with really good technical ability, guys like Cameron Pither and Josh Fuimaono, and we’re trying to pass that on through the team and in particular the pack.”
Following two bye weekends and a 24-19 loss to Souths last Saturday, the Breakers slipped out of the top four for the first time this year.
With a game in hand, they now sit in fifth place behind GPS, Easts, Souths and Brothers.
With eight games remaining for the Breakers, Rosewarne has cautioned his side about letting their intensity slip.
“There are some teams in the competition that have nothing to lose and will be looking to make life difficult for teams aiming at the top four. Teams that play with that mentality are always difficult opponents,” he said.
“It is a week by week proposition with the ladder - things are going to change and adjust, and every Premier team is in the same position.
“Whether you’re Brothers or whether you’re the Gold Coast, if you’re not on the job, you’re going to get beaten.”
The Breakers continue to be without QR Reds prop Ben Daley, fellow prop Cole Mooney and backs Ben Gollings, Ben Tapuai and Billy Ngawini, although Rosewarne said they are positioned to return in coming weeks.
“Those guys will be back in the next two or three weeks and we’ll have everyone available for selection.
“It is just that time of the season with players away and every team goes through it. We just have to deal with it.”
The Stingrays will be hoping the return of Dylan Fahey, Adam Dear and Marty Brown on Saturday will aid their quest of removing themselves from the bottom of the ladder.
They currently sit in last position with just one win from the season.
“It is disappointing, but the second half of the season we just want to knock off as many of the top teams as we can. That’s our goal.”
