HAVING Panda back for Saturday night’s Country Challenge Cup clash against Woy Woy is a major plus for the Moree Ranbuild Boars, says captain-coach Matt Ryan.
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Panda is brilliant halfback Ewan McGrady, a former winner of the Rothmans Medal while playing for Canterbury and one of the main playmakers and destroyers for the Boars.
McGrady missed last Saturday night’s first round win over Warialda.
But he’s back and ready to slice Woy Woy apart with his backline brothers, Ricky, Barry and Brett.
It’s a quartet of footballers any side would love to have. They combine brilliant ball skills with some dazzling acceleration and skilful
running.
Against Warialda a piece of McGrady magic highlighted the brothers’ ability to identify an attacking opportunity and then act.
With minutes remaining in the match five-eighth Brett spotted a gap in behind the Wombat defence on the halfway line. He chipped over the top, regathered and brother Barry loomed up on the outside in support to race away and score.
“And having Panda back will give us a bit more organisation,” Ryan said.
His clash against former Country halfback Haydon Berry will also be a personal highlight when the match against the Woy Woy Roosters kicks off at 7pm.
Woy Woy will hope to take control of the game in the forwards and snuff out any backline threat.
Former Country secondrower Jason Carpenter will captain the side and, with former Country prop Andrew Jackson, carry much of the coastal forward hopes.
The three Woy Woy Country stars spearhead a side which also contains talented centre Mitchell Berry.
Moree’s fitness may also be a key, Ryan said.
“We played well for the first 60 minutes against Warialda but fell away the last quarter.”
MOREE: 1 Warren Sampson, 2 Perry Duncan, 3 Ricky McGrady, 4 Barry McGrady, 5 Grantly Creighton, 6 Brett McGrady, 7 Ewan McGrady, 8 Jason Darcy, 9 Adam McMahon, 10 Paul Raveneau, 11 Col Marchant, 12 Tony Murray, 13 Matt Ryan (capt-coach), 14 Jack Davis, 15 Daniel Hobday, 16 John Craigie, 17 Steve Raveneau.
WOY WOY: 1 Evan Cochrane, 2 Brent Byrne, 3 Mitchell Berry, 4 Shannon Keats, 5 Elton Connors, 6 Shane Ward, 7 Hayden Berry, 8 Duncan Smith, 9 Michael Jenkins, 10 Andrew Jackson, 11 Grant Stuart, 12 Jason Carpenter, 13 Jade Mason, 14 Adam Moore, 15 Layne Martin, 16 Justin Louis, 17 Sean Dickson.
