LEETON-WHITTON have never been in a better position to bring home a win than they are this weekend, according to coach Sam Darley.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Fresh off another intense battle and close loss to the Wagga Tigers, Leeton-Whitton are feeling rejuvenated ahead of what is indeed a winnable game on Saturday against traditional rivals the Griffith Swans.
There's no doubting the Swans will be feeling the same way. Both teams are languishing at the wrong end of the first grade ladder, but a win this weekend will lift one of these sides further from the wooden spoon.
Boosting the Crows this weekend will be the return of assistant coach Matt Rainbird, who has been out since round one after suffering an injury in that first encounter of the season.
MORE SPORT NEWS:
Brad Boots will be out with a hamstring injury, while several of the team's young cohort who attend university in Wollongong are still in isolation.
"It's fantastic to have Matty Rainbird back, he will bring a lot to the team, it will make a huge difference," Darley said.
"Bailey Wood is also back this week. So we're looking good. In terms of last week and this week it's probably the two strongest teams we have been able to put out this season.
"We've actually had trouble picking teams, which is a good problem to have."
The Swans do hold the upper hand over the Crows having defeated them 12.10-82 to 7.4-46 in round one.
Darley said Leeton-Whitton's performance in that game was "embarrassing" after the first quarter and he hopes his team has learned their lesson from that match.
"I don't think our guys will be under any illusions this time when we play them ... for us it is about coming to compete, which we didn't do last time," he said.
"When we turn up to compete, we can play well against anyone. It's just turning up with that right attitude.
It's fantastic to have Matty Rainbird back, he will bring a lot to the team, it will make a huge difference.
- Leeton-Whitton coach Sam Darley
"This is a real opportunity for us to win and then see what we can do with the rest of the season.
"We aren't going to make finals, but we can start to make positive moves and and build for next year."
The side also hopes to welcome back Will Wakeman in the coming weeks.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.irrigator.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News