THE Border Rugby League season resumes this Saturday with the always highly anticipated Tenterfield versus Stanthorpe clash.
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After a few weeks off following their heavy victory over Texas, the Tigers side will travel north for the encounter and coach Brendan Minns said the side are itching to get on the paddock.
“We’re all quite looking forward to it,” Mr Minns said.
The competition broke up for two weeks with representative football and Easter but Mr Minns said he was happy to report they would be taking a full strength squad for the game.
“I think we are looking near full strength – we should have everyone on deck,” he said.
“All the rep boys coming back are looking good too.”
Eight Tigers players (pictured) played in the Border Bushrangers game in Miles two weekends ago with Jim Loneragan, Ben Watts and Nathan Dearden selected for the South West Country side.
The Tigers will have three training runs this week with the coach keen to keep his players focused before the grudge match.
“I’ve decided to chuck in a Friday night training session so we can keep them out of the pub that night (Anzac Day) – if they’re not at training then I’ll know where they are and they’ll need a bloody good excuse,” he joked.
While Tenterfield made light work of the Gremlins at the Killarney round robin competition, Mr Minns said he was expecting a wholly different match.
“We know they’ve got points in them and it will be physical,” he said.
“While we’ve lost a little bit of experience in respect to Geoff (Swan) and Damian (Petrie) going over there - we will have youth and enthusiasm.”
The deflection of a number of former Tigers players to the Stanthorpe side this season will add an edge to the game but Mr Minns said his side would need to concentrate on their jobs if they were to walk away with a win.
The ladies league tag sides will start proceedings at 1.30pm followed by the men’s game at 2.30pm at Sullivan Oval, Stanthorpe.
A supporter’s bus has been organised and will leave from the Telegraph Hotel at 12.30pm with a cost of $10 per person.