This weekend shapes up as one of the most important of the year for the Tamworth Thunderbolts in the Division 1 Men’s state league.
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With two games scheduled – against St George on Saturday and Manly-Warringah on Sunday – the results will determine where they finish on the ladder.
One win would just about lock down a top two spot but a pair of wins would see the Bolts spring into the top spot with one round remaining.
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The start to the weekend couldn’t be any harder with the Bolts going up against the first-placed Saints.
“It’s a very difficult game. They beat us by 10 or so in Tamworth but admittedly we have a few different players now in Scott McGann and Rashanti Harris,” Thunderbolt Chris Skilton said.
“If we are any chance of finishing on top we have to beat them on Saturday.”
Skilton said it was “always difficult playing two games in close succession” but coach John Ireland was planning on taking 12 players into each game.
Ireland said who would be used in each game would be determined on the day.
“Having the opportunity to rest them [players] and keep them fresh will all depend on how the games pan out,” Ireland said.
While Ireland said the Thunderbolts can’t get ahead of themselves, he said the ultimate goal was to finish on top of the ladder.
“The guys trained exceptionally well and we have the opportunity to finish first in our pool with three wins,” Ireland said.
“A home semi would be awesome but at the end of the day we’ve had a pretty good start to the season and given ourselves the best opportunity to have a home final if we can secure a couple more wins.
“But we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We have to focus on Saturday first and then Sunday.”
