Ross Tungatalum will be back at Wodonga Raiders, Daryn Cresswell vows

Tungatalum was a late withdrawal from the Raiders’ side that defeated Wodonga by 20 points on Monday and speculation was rife around John Flower Oval that the excitement machine wouldn’t be returning from Northern Territory.

Cresswell said Tungatalum had a baby due in the next fortnight and while he may not be seen back in the Ovens and Murray before the interleague bye on May 21, he would be returning.

“We booked the flight home for him because his wife is pregnant,” he said.

“As soon as that’s over and done with, we’ll look at getting him back.

“He’ll get itchy feet. He’ll be back. He did it last year.”

Jydon Neagle stepped up in Tungatalum and another late withdrawal Todd Bryant’s absence to kick nine goals against the Bulldogs.

Cresswell considered playing against the Bulldogs with Tungatalum and Flagg dropping out of the Raiders’ forward line.

“It could have been concerning for the group when they look at the board and see no ‘Rocco’, no Bryant, no Adam Flagg,” he said.

“It could have been a downer but I was really pleased with the way they responded.

“We’ve got a lot of class to come back into the side, we just need to beat those sides around us to give ourselves the best chance.”

Bryant and the recently-signed Dean Giles will come into the Raiders’ side to face Albury in round six with Dean Heta to make his return through the reserves.

“Our young players will go out and play against them and learn an awful lot,” he said.

“We’ve got a hell of a lot of respect for Albury, they’re a great football club.

“You can bring all the players in you like but you’ve got to have a strong culture and you’ve got to have good coaching and they’ve had that.”