Comets regroup minus Rothery 16/06/2010
Story courtesy of Alan Kennedy at The Morning Bulletin
SPORT can be cruel and star CQ Comets forward Alan Rothery will have three weeks to feel the pain as he sits out the next three Intrust Super Cup games.
Comets' second rower Alan Rothery will be missed by the Comets for the next 3 weeks. Photo courtesy of The Morning Bulletin's Chris Ison
Rothery was a standout for the Comets against the Sunshine Coast, but incurred the disapproval of the match official for taking things in his own hands when an opposition player wouldn’t give him the room to play a quick play-the-ball.
The Comets have been made to suffer as the official not only gave Coast the ball from which they went on to score, but sin-binned Rothery for 10 minutes.
That was during the match and now the big forward has received two weeks suspension for a charge of “contrary behaviour” plus an extra week for the points he had accrued from previous offences.
Comets coach Wayne Barnett was not prepared to comment on the display of the match official, but did agree Rothery’s aggression can get him into problems.
“He is an aggressive player, but he does his job, sometimes he might go a little too far,” Barnett admitted.
The timing of the punishment for Rothery is especially cruel as Barnett revealed the big man was under consideration for the annual Country v Town game.
Despite the loss of arguably the Comets’ most consistent performer, Barnett has announced a very sound squad for Saturday’s match against Easts at Browne Park.
“On paper it looks like a good side,” the coach conceded, but pointed out the team got no points for good selections.
Probably the unluckiest player is Matt Minto, who returns to Yeppoon after two weeks at full back for the Comets.
“He didn’t have a bad game and with ball in hand was very good,” he said. “He is still a player coming through.”
However, Junior Auru is the Comets’ first choice fullback and he rejoins the team after injury.
Dallas Williams is named for one of the wing spots while the performance of Nick Deaves has convinced the coach he can do the job on the other wing.
One player who has failed to make the cut is Karl Johnson who is set to play in the Challenge Cup competition.
Barnett said Johnson was still not playing as well as he could.
“His defence is a part of the key,” the coach said.
Named in the centres is Jade Williams who marked his return to the Comets with two tries last week.
“Jade has had a tough month, but I congratulate the bloke on the way he came back,” he said.
Darren Mapp also comes back after injury to lessen the blow of losing Rothery.
Even though Easts arebelow the Comets on the ladder, Barnett will be telling his team to take nothing for granted.
“We go out thinking we are better than what we are, a team has got to work for the win,” he said.
Comets side to take on the Easts Tigers at Browne Park on Saturday night, 7pm kick-off.
1. Junior Auru
2. Dallas Williams
3. Jade Williams
4. Josh Bishop
5. Nick Deaves
6. Nathan Barraclough
7. Marc Fickling
8. Tim Glasby
9. Ian Webster
10. Aaron Summers
11. Tyron Haynes
12. Darren Mapp
13. Guy Williams
Interchange
14. Chris Beasley
15. Mick Esdale
16. Guy Ford
17. Gerard Parle
