Buoyed by knocking over Gunnedah, Inverell isn’t planning to change its strategy as it looks to topple defending premiers Moree tomorrow.
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The Highlanders picked up their first win since the competition split with a 19-5 result against the Red Devils, and would love to pick up another couple before season ends.
It’s been a rebuilding year for them, and skipper Chad Makim said, it would give them a lot of confidence moving forward.
The plan tomorrow will be pretty much the same as last week, he said.
“Try and use our fast backs,” Makim said.
“Playing wide worked for us last week.”
They stunned the Red Devils scoring twice within the first 10 minutes.
That ultimately proved the difference.
“The boys had fun last week,” Makim said.
With their finals hopes over, that is what it is about for them now – fun.
It showed in their play, playing with a real intent to throw the ball around.
“If we play smart and play like we did last week we’re a very good chance of beating them,” Makim said.
That goes for defence as much as attack.
Their tackling last week was as good as it’s been for a while.
“If our defence keeps up like it did last week we’ll be right,” he said.
That said, they expect the Bulls to be tougher than the Red Devils were. They’ll also be stinging from their loss to arch-rivals Narrabri.
“They’ll be looking to bounce back,” Makim said.
He said they’ve got a good allround side and was expecting them to try and play an expansive game too.
They’ll also need to be wary of them up through the middle.
They’ve got some guys that like to rumble it through the middle.
The Highlanders haven’t been that far off the pace against the Bulls.
“Our last game they only just beat us.
“The game before was not a blow-out,” Makim said.
In fairness, both times the Bulls have been a bit understrength, but the Highlanders have played well.
The last game the Bulls were up 19-nil at half-time but the Highlanders turned it on in the second half to end up going down by just seven.
It’s really just about winning and building form for the finals for the Bulls – they can’t finish any higher than third.
Narrabri and Pirates are out in front and will clash in Tamworth tomorrow in the other Tier 1 fixture.
Meanwhile in Tier 2 Walcha will host Quirindi and Scone travels to Barraba.
o In New England action tomorrow Barbarians will be looking to turn the tables on St Alberts after they got up by two last week, while Robb and Armidale in a top-of-the-table clash at Moran Oval.