Quirindi and Moree might hold a different opinion but Pirates coach Mat Kelly says the Central North premiers are “still very rusty”.
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Hard to fathom when they have racked up almost 150 points in their opening two games, but Kelly knows what his side is capable of.
He highlighted game awareness and game speed as two areas where they have been a bit rusty.
“We are building. Both games we’ve gone the right way in terms of improvement,” he said.
He’s hoping that trajectory continues on Saturday when they face grand final combatants Walcha in what will be their biggest test.
The Rams have been equally as impressive, and while it mightn’t be front and centre in their minds Kelly doesn’t expect them to have forgotten last year.
“So we’re very wary of what that brings,” he said.
He is in no doubt where the Rams will pose the biggest threat – as he put it it’s no secret to anyone Walcha’s backline is their strength.
“Their backs are electric. It will be good to see how our backline matches up against them,” Kelly said.
“We’ve had a reshuffle and have got a few new players.”
He counted only two from the backline that played in the grand final, with last week’s wrecking ball Andrew Moodie unavailable.
Brendan Rixon shifts into five-eighth for him, with Llewyn Rapana pushing into the centres and Sam Collett coming onto the wing.
Kelly said they do take some lessons out of last year about negating the impact of the much-vaunted Rams backline, although wasn’t divulging too much.
One of the Rams’ biggest weapons is their speed but Kelly believes his side is better equipped to match that.
“We’ve got more speed than last year, which is one part we thought we were a bit short,” Kelly said.
Rapana has been a great addition in that regard as has the returning Jake Hartmann.
Such a strength for them last season the pack remains much the same both in personnel and their role.
“We’ve added a few different things to our game,” Kelly said.
One of those things is giving some of the forwards a licence to play a bit more open, Kelly emphasising the “some”.