TAMWORTH Kangaroos are preparing for the biggest game of their season.
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The unbeaten Roos completed the first round with six straight wins and start the second round with a huge home game against defending premiers New England Nomads today.
The Roos had the long weekend general bye to ponder a game that could easily guarantee a minor premiership against the second-placed Nomads.
“We’ve got two weeks and four training sessions,” Roos coach Tony Bishop said after his side dispatched the Inverell Saints at No 1 Oval by 80 points.
The Roos kicked 15.19 104 to the Saints’ 3.6 24.
It was a big win against a club that has been a nemesis for the Roos in the past.
The last three years, the New England Nomads have been the chief destroyers, winning all three flags.
A few months back, the Roos went to Nomadville and upset the home team in the very first game of the season.
It was a statement Bishop hopes his side can add to today.
The Roos have hit the ground running since their big first round win over the Nomads in the first round in Armidale.
An early start to the season meant the side started the season fit and they fired from the start.
Unveiling a new “North Melbourne” blue and white strip in the win over Inverell has the side bubbling along.
Star forwards Dan Overeem and Dean Hoy have kicked impressively the last fortnight, Hoy slotting a club record 15 against Moree Suns and then Overeem bagging eight goals against the Saints.
Daniel Leon, Mitch Penberthy and Carl Frazier all starred against the Saints, with Hoy and Overeem dangerous up front.
Bishop reckons the high “tackle pressure” exerted by Chris Pollock is a “barometer for the side”.
“I had the luxury of playing Hodgy (Matt) and Dan (Johnson) in the backline and they set up play all day, gave the team momentum,” he said of the Saints win.
Today will be a lot different.
“It’s a big game for us,” Bishop said.
Nomads captain-coach Zac Economou said he and his squad are looking forward to a big game.
“It’s a big challenge for us and the Roos,” Economou said yesterday.
“It’s a good chance for both teams to test themselves.
“We’ve been pretty lucky with injury so far this season but the uni holidays have knocked us around a little.
“We don’t have our best side but we will still have a strong side.”
He’s hoping for a “team effort” too .
“We didn’t want to rely on the Dave Richards and Jed Ellis-Cluffs who are playing well every week,” he said.
In other TAFL games today Inverell Saints host Moree Suns and Gunnedah are at home to the Tamworth Swans.