Slow Starters, Scratching For A Win, Look To The Past To Secure Their Futures
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday May 10, 2003
Desperation for a first win may not be enough motivation for Gordon and Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park today, so Highlanders coach John Quinn has his side focused on the past in an effort to improve its future.
``A Gordon-Warringah game has always been a big game. Blokes have always gone at each other hard, there's a lot of history there," he said. ``Some of the younger or new guys have had to respect and understand what went on in the past and play for that.
``Warringah's in the same boat with a lot of young guys and whichever team grabs that feeling and finds that fight will get up."
The Rats and the Highlanders have struggled this season and have yet to make a mark in the win column.
Neither side has been embarrassed on the park in the first five rounds but more will be needed to secure a first win, and a single victory can revitalise a team.
The youth of each side is apparent with regular team members missing from the program today after the NSWRU decided to field a Junior Waratahs team as the curtain-raiser at Aussie Stadium rather than the previously scheduled Sydney side.
Warringah have lost hooker Luke Holmes and centre Haig Sare, while Gordon's pack is weakened without second-rower Seve Rokobaro and front-rowers Adam Walsh and Alan Manning.
With each side making further changes in an effort to generate competition points and with the return of players from injury, the two starting teams are vastly different to those that appeared in the round-five program.
In one change, Warringah have moved five-eighth Craig McMahon to centre to cover for Sare, with Samoan world cup squad member Josh Keil coming into the side. McMahon will face Highlanders regular Epi Wakaniyaro in the No.12 jersey, with the return of the solid midfielder enabling coach Quinn to return Mitch Hardy to fullback. Hardy had shifted forward to the centres two weeks ago to add his considerable experience to the centre combination.
Gordon fans will also be pleased to see the third Mortlock brother make his first-grade debut with Lincoln Mortlock claiming the vacant hooking role.
In other matches, Southern Districts winger Solomone Vukicikorolevu has been ruled out with an ankle injury and Brett Collings comes into the side to play Randwick at Kogarah Oval. Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta were unchanged ahead of their match at Woollahra Oval today.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
Share This