The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs may have survived a brutal battle last week but head into Saturday’s clash with Macquarie knowing it won’t get any easier.
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The Bulldogs ran out 28-22 winners over Maitland in a physical contest and coach Phil Williams said his team will have to be up for another fight at Peacock Field.
Kurri go into the game having lost centre Damien Walters for the season with a broken leg, while Jay Stevens will miss at least two weeks with a fractured eye socket.
The game will be broadcast live on the Mercury website courtesy of BLive Streaming and Williams said he is ready for another testing 80 minutes.
“I’m expecting another physical encounter,” he said.
“They’ll try and intimidate us, they’ll try and dominate us through the forwards and then let their backs do the work.
“We have to muscle up and be prepared for it.”
Kurri staged one of the greatest comebacks in Newcastle Rugby League history when the two teams last met in the 2013 minor semi-final, coming from 30-6 down to win 48-30.
While the Bulldogs respect Macquarie, Williams said his team is every chance of making it back-to-back wins.
“They’re another quality side we’re coming up against,” he said.
“They haven’t lost too many from last year when they were right up there.
“It’s another opportunity to show what we’re about.”
The Bulldogs were excellent in the final 20 minutes against Maitland to win by six points after they trailed 22-10.
Williams said the qualities shown by his team last week would be needed again on Saturday.
“Kurri is a team built on hard work, teamwork and mateship,” he said.
“All those type of tings came to the fore last week, we’ve set a standard and now we’ve got to stick with it.”
Kurri have also announced the signing of former South Newcastle fullback Byron Warren from Scone.
The Newcastle Knights junior product will make his Bulldogs debut in reserve grade against Macquarie along side grand final winger Ethan McKenzie who returns from a hamstring injury.
Kick off is at 3pm.
The Maitland Pickers have the bye.