THE Glen Innes Magpies were flying this season until the Boomerangs hit them last round and now they are looking to find their wings again as they travel to Armidale today.
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The Magpies were beaten by the Boomerangs in the last round 36-0, three weeks after the Rams beat the Boomerangs for their first loss 28-26.
Magpies captain Sam Key believes that the loss could have been a good thing for the team.
“We know we have the roster to beat any team but we were out-enthused that day,” Key said.
“We were getting a bit complacent but made a pact after that game to work harder.”
Key knows they will have a tough day today matching it with the huge Rams pack.
“We have to match them physically up front and then throw it around a bit later,” Key said.
The Magpies will be missing hard-working centre Craig Brown but otherwise have a full roster.
Prop Jeff Moate has been in top form and will have to be on his game again to lead the forwards against arguably the biggest pack in the comp.
“Jeff (Moate) and Mone Loheti have been great up front and Jock Waters has been superb lately as well.”
In a very tough competition, the team that has been getting the basics right has been winning, and that is the key for Key.
“We are just going to concentrate on our processes.
“Complete our sets and limit the amount of tackles we have to make.
“Keep the ball – win the game.”
Once again, there is a lot of good match-ups this weekend.
Other than the Boomerangs playing Ashford, the other three games are even money.
Uralla has a good chance to notch up a third win and climb the ladder when it travels to Inverell today.
Both sides have been a bit inconsistent but both sides have also shown they can turn it on on their day.
There is a jam in the middle of the ladder, with Goondiwindi, Armidale and Inverell all on 10 points.
A win for the Hawks could potentially take them from fifth to third.
Tingha will host Moree for the first time this season in the other match.
Tingha has had two weeks off since its hard-fought loss to Armidale and should come into this match fit and firing.
The Boars, on the other hand, are coming off a two- point win over Armidale and are keen to keep climbing the ladder.
Both sides are tied on eight points in sixth and seventh place but a win could push them into the top four.
With a long way to go, the G19 competition is already heating up and the fight for a finals position has started.