Barnett guessing on line-up 21/07/2010
CQ Comets coach Wayne Barnett usually names his squad on a Tuesday and that reflects the team playing at the weekend.
Comets centre Jade Williams is not just a try machine but is also improving with his defensive duties.
This week, however, he has no such luxury.
Question marks hang over the heads of too many players, making it guesswork for the coach, who admits the remainder of the season will be about playing for respectability.
Barnett and his players are still recovering from the pounding they received at the weekend from the Burleigh Bears, when losing 50-18 at Browne Park.
“It wasn’t our strongest team,” he admitted.
Playing with two inexperienced wingers took its toll on the Comets. Barnett said Daniel Pickering and Joe Collins-Soo were both exposed.
However, the coach said both youngsters were against quality opponents and they would be better for that experience.
The youngsters were covering for automatic selections Junior Auru and Dallas Williams, and Barnett was unsure whether his top wingers would face the Northern Pride at Browne Park on Saturday.
Added to that list were second-rower Chris Beasley, who is still troubled by an ankle injury, Darren Mapp, who was injured against the Bears, and Alan Rothery, who seems certain to miss most of the rest of the season after being placed on report for a head-high tackle and then being sent from the park, giving away a penalty try in the process, for his challenge on a Bears try-scorer.
One piece of good news was that centre Jade Williams received only an “uncomfortable” injury against the Bears.
Williams is one of the few players whose form is improving as the season progresses. “He played well. His defence is getting better each week,” Barnett said.
A certainty to be named is young Chris Gesch, who put in a ton of work and showed pace with a great line break, which led to one of the Comets’ tries.
THE TEAM
The team to meet Northern Pride in Round 18 on Saturday at Browne Park is:
1. Matt Minto 2. Junior Auru 3. Jade Williams 4. Josh Bishop 5. Dallas Williams 6. Guy Williams 7. Ian Webster 8. Tim Glasby 9. Marc Fickling 10. Alan Rothery 11. Tyron Haynes 12. Darren Mapp 13. Mick Esdale 14. Chris Beasley 15. Chris Gesch 16. Lewis McPhail 17. Liam Anlezark 18. George Tuakura Joe Collins-Soo 19. Daniel Pickering.
