The Maitland Blacks welcome back club skipper Michael Howell for Saturday's crucial game against Southern Beaches.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Blacks are to name probably their strongest team of the season, with NSW Country Cockatoos representatives Jono O’Toole and Travis Brooke available and forward James Robinson returning from concussion.
“It’s a massive boost for us finally getting Mick back. He has been such an important player for us and further boosts our scrum and in particular our lineouts,” Blacks co-coach Ryan McCormack said.
“Mick will replace Klass Hoogland in the in the second row and Nick Davidson moves back to the side of the scrum to open-side flanker and Travis Brooke and Jono O’Toole are back in the team.
“We’re pretty near full strength. The guys who have come into the team have done a great job, but you can’t leave players of the quality of Jono and Travis out when they are available.
“Getting James Robinson back will strengthen our scrum. He has just been so strong for us all season. We’re glad he has been given the all clear to return from concussion.”
Maitland’s forward stocks are so strong that James Johnston has been named in second grade and will feature on the first grade reserves bench.
The backs are also in good shape with centre Jye Esthateo likely to return in the next two weeks and last year’s top try scorer Rob Williamson has resumed contact training.
Centre Junior Poloai has a rib injury and is an unlikely starter this week, but should be available with Esthateo for the following week’s game against Wanderers.
McCormack said the squad trained with real intensity on Tuesday night and eager to bounce back from the disappointment of their 37-24 loss at Lake Macquarie last round.
“We had some real intensity at training, the guys are all obviously bitterly disappointed from the weekend, but have moved on and focused on this week,” he said.
“That’s the best way to deal with a result like that, learn from our mistakes, and the mistakes were in the simple parts of the game – tackling, ball handling and maintaining possession.”