Dubbo Kangaroos first grade coach Dean Matthews joked at times during the season the club’s colts coaches Mick Hollow and Ben Mastronadi must have hated him for calling up so many young players to play in the premier division.
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But rather than see it as a hindrance, Hollow has backed his players to use that experience to their advantage in this weekend’s Blowes Clothing Cup colts preliminary final against Orange City.
It hasn’t been easy for Hollow and Mastronadi at times, with players not only missing games due to first grade commitments but also some suffered injuries while playing under Matthews and spent significant stints on the sideline.
But Hollow, someone who has been involved with Roos club in one way or another for decades, still sees it as a positive.
“I played my juniors with the Roos and this is the first time I’ve seen so many colts playing first grade and that’s a reflection on the talent we have,” he said.
“First grade is a different speed and it’s more tactical and more of a team game compared to colts, where players are just coming out of juniors.
“So for them to get a taste of that, they bring those skills back and learn to play that level-headed game and it’s a big boost for them.”
On Saturday at Forbes’ Grinsted Oval the Roos take on an Orange City side which thumped them in the qualifying semi-final just two weeks ago.
Hollow confessed that 43-7 defeat rattled the confidence within his side but it was restored in last weekend’s clinical minor semi-final win over the Mudgee Wombats.
“To win like that has boosted them and now they know they can do it,” Hollow said, some of his players describing the performance against City as their worst of the season.
“We want a little bit of revenge this weekend but we’re still going to play as a team and try and move ahead.”
The Roos will be without Hamish Smith and Charlie Lawry on Saturday after both suffered injuries while playing in the club’s first grade loss to Bathurst Bulldogs last weekend.
But the side has to deal with plenty this season and Hollow said the versatility of his players will make the absences easy to cover.
“It’s good for the team to have players able to play in so many positions,” he said.
“You look at someone like Ben Knaggs and I had him playing in the forwards but then he was in the backs and last weekend he was at centre so I could put him anywhere, really.
City comes into the match missing arguably it’s biggest weapon in Hunter Ward.
The rising star will miss the match due to Australian junior sevens commitments.
“But their forwards are really well drilled and can dominate the game so we’re looking to our forwards to stop the runs from off the rucks, that’s a big danger,” Hollow said.
Flying fullback Yool Yool is another of City’s main attacking weapons and was a standout in his side’s victory over the Roos in the first week of finals.
Kick-off at Forbes’ Grinsted Oval on Saturday is 10.50am.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
