Central North Rugby: Pirates eagerly awaiting Conrad Starr's return

The premiers have lost three straight while the man widely regarded as the best No.8 in the zone has been out with a hamstring injury. And while that isn't all down to not having Starr, it has been a significant factor.

Co-coach Mick Squires conceded after Saturday's loss to Gunnedah they probably didn't realise the extent of the Starr factor until they didn't have him.

"Probably more than his football we've missed his leadership," he said.

READ ALSO:

"Conrad obviously has that ability to just keep guys in the moment."

"I think Bart's (Leach) done a tremendous job but he also plays a position where he's around that field a lot."

Nick McCrohan has also done a good job in Starr's absence at No.8, consistently being among their best. Squires thought he was probably the best player on the field in the loss to Moree.

"He's just growing in confidence now and he's getting really keen for his footy," he said.

He said he is just a workhorse.

"We probably don't want him to work so hard because he's such a better ball runner when you can just get him in certain positions on the field," he said.

"But he hasn't been able to do that with Starry away."

"If Starry's ready to go next (this) week I think Nick's game will free up a bit."

After playing up front the first two rounds, Squires indicated the plan is to keep McCrohan in the backrow.

That was where he envisaged him playing this season.

The last three weeks have reaffirmed his thinking, but it will depend on what happens with other positions.

Unaccustomed to losing three in-a-row, Squires said everyone was "remaining positive" and there is no panic. They always knew it was going to be a tough start drawing the three other semi-finalists from 2019, plus fifth-placed Moree, in the first five weeks.

"We know there's some hard work ahead of us," he said.

"We've got these four weeks to get things right before we start the second round."

"It's just not quite clicking yet but if there's one thing that dressing room has it's plenty of effort."

"They'll just go back to it next week and they'll just go again and they'll keep working until they get it right."

"Nothing crushes their spirits; that's what makes them so good to coach."

And as the results so far have shown there isn't a lot between the top teams.

"It's just who turns up on the day and nails their moments," Squires said.

It was what they weren't able to do on Saturday, their lineout particularly letting them down.

"It was good during the week, we were ready to go," Squires said.

"But it's a lot different doing it at training than when you're 70 minutes in and you're under fatigue."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: