THE time for talking is almost over as Port City Breakers and the Port Macquarie Sharks start their pre-season campaigns this weekend.
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Port City will tackle Wauchope in Kempsey, while the Sharks face the Mustangs soon after at the same venue.
The Sharks were competitive against Newcastle Rugby League premiers Macquarie two weeks ago and will be better for the run.
Sharks coach Jake Hawkins will have arguably a stronger side at his disposal for the clash with the Mustangs.
“We’ve got a few back for this game – Jake Green will come off the bench into the centres and Joel Antilla will go back to the bench,” he said.
“We’ll have a couple of others who will return as well.”
When asked for his thoughts on the pre-season tournament, Hawkins was non-committal.
“I’ve probably got some clouded thoughts over the whole pre-season tournament and I don’t know if it’s good or bad,” he said.
“There are some positives and negatives about it all because it does give you the opportunity to see what the other sides in the group will look like.
“But on the other side it lessens the opportunity to challenge yourself and play teams from other groups; that’s where most of the frustration comes from.”
I’ve probably got some clouded thoughts over the whole pre-season tournament and I don’t know if it’s good or bad.
- Port Macquarie Sharks coach Jake Hawkins
Hawkins said he would trial “a few new things and see what works”.
“I think we probably have a stronger side than last week, so it will be good to give a couple of the other boys a run.”
The focus for Port Macquarie was on being near their best for the season opener against the Breakers next month.
“As a whole side we’re looking to get all the little things right so we’re ready to go against the Breakers in round one,” Hawkins said.
Port City Breakers counterpart Dan Kemp said his side were “itching to belt a few blokes that aren’t their teammates".
The Breakers clash with Wauchope also at Kempsey from 3.30pm on Saturday in their first run since their grand final victory.
“We’ve probably been getting a little bit stale in the last couple of weeks from going over the same things at training,” Kemp said.
“It’ll be good to get a footy in our hands and it is a game of footy against Wauchope so it’ll be a bit personal.”
This is what we’ve been working towards all off season; we’ll build from here now.
- Port City Breakers coach Dan Kemp
Trae Clark’s younger brother Jerome will make his first grade debut after a strong off-season.
“He’s been training the house down and deserves his chance,” Kemp said.
“Young Blake Wells has had an excellent attitude at training and he’ll have a run too.”
Kemp labelled Saturday’s match as Ground Zero.
“This is what we’ve been working towards all off season; we’ll build from here now,” he said.