KANGAROOS will be desperate to break a three-match losing streak when they take on reigning premier Albury Thunder at Wagga’s Equex Centre tomorrow.
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After being in equal top position after six rounds, the Wagga side has hit the wall with losses against Tumut, Gundagai and Southcity and coach Andrew Hinchcliffe will be eager to stop the slide.
Hinchcliffe’s opposite number Josh Cale is preparing for an early barrage.
“No one wants to lose three in a row,” Cale said.
“They will be keen for a big one.
“It’s that sort of competition where you can win a few and then lose a few and we know we will have to be on our game.”
Kangaroos will need big performances from prop John Arentz and New Zealander Hayden Davis to take the sting out of Albury’s forwards who have an abundance of strikepower with Cale starting on the bench.
Mitch Davis and Lou Goodwin have been in outstanding form, while Penrith recruit Jake Grace showed plenty on debut and will be looking for more ground time after playing 50 minutes last weekend.
Cale has also backed Dion Belford-Laulu to successfully cover Ben Jeffery who is representing the Country Bulls against Western Australia in Perth.
“Dion is a quality full-back and it’s his preferred position so I’m sure he’ll enjoy it,” he said.
“He’s done the job well before.”
Belford-Laulu’s switch to fullback is one of several changes with Mitch Seaton coming into the centres for his first match this season and Daniel Jacobs being promoted and will start on a wing.
