Talented roster yet to gel

Three games into his tenure as Bathurst Panthers player-coach, Todd Barrow admits that it may take longer than he first thought to get the best out of his talented but struggling roster.

The side will host Group 10 premier league heavyweights Mudgee at Carrington Park tomorrow and will be desperate to avoid slipping to a 0-4 record to start the season following losses to Blayney, Cowra and St Pat’s.

Perhaps their record paints a worse picture than the men in black deserve, having lost relatively narrowly to Cowra and been within eight points of Pat’s late in their match before three late tries blew out the scoreline.

But none of that changes their ladder predicament.

“We’ve trained well, everyone is working hard, but maybe it is going to take longer than what I thought to get things up to speed,” Barrow said.

“We’re a young side, I’m the oldest player out there I think at 30 and there are a few that are straight out of under 18s, so maybe that is having an impact.

“I’m hoping we can turn it around this week, we’re working hard to get that first victory, which should take a bit of the pressure off and make the job a bit easier.”

The Panthers team will receive a massive boost, with former representative star Jeremy Gordon returning for his first premiership match with the side since having stints with St Pat’s and Cowra.

He will slot into five-eighth, allowing Sandon Gibbs-O’Neill to move to fullback and fill the spot vacated by the suspended Bradyn Cassidy, who was given a three week spell for throwing a punch in last week’s local derby.

Barrow has his fingers crossed that Gordon’s inclusion will spark their attack, particularly when they get extended opportunities on the opposition line.

“We’ve probably lacked a little bit of direction in the halves but Jeremy will hopefully ease that problem a bit,” the coach said.

“In those three games we’ve lost, we’ve been at the other end of the field and struggled to find the line. In the first 20 minutes against St Pat’s we had a lot of opportunities but didn’t take them.

“Having Sandon at fullback means we probably have an extra option now, he can play like an extra half and bob up on either side of the field.

“From seeing how well Jeremy has trained, he’s raring to go.”

Mudgee’s side offers a lot of challenges but arguably none bigger than taming their forward pack, led by Jack Afamasaga.

Since joining the Dragons, their skipper has been colossal in virtually any win – and many  losses – they have enjoyed and along with fellow Group 10 forward Demetrius Anau, he will cause headaches for the Panthers defence.

Barrow is careful not to make it all about the forward battle, though.

“They are pretty good across the board to be fair to them. Jack and his forwards lay a great platform but the two centres in Tom Lewsley and Corin Smith are among the best in the competition,” Barrow said.

“They’re good all over the park. 

“We’ve played good enough football in patches this season to match anyone. You have to do it for 80 minutes to beat them though, and that’s what we need to do on Sunday.”

Kick-off at Carrington Park is at 2.30pm.

BATHURST PANTHERS: 1 Sandon Gibbs-O’Neill, 2 Josh Small, 3 Jay McClintock, 4 Blake Lawson, 5 Chris Shephard, 6 Jeremy Gordon, 7 Joey Bugg, 8 Brent Seager, 9 Luke Carpenter, 10 Greg Behan, 11 Max Wolfson, 12 Todd Barrow, 13 Jake Betts, 14 Matt Woolmington, 15 Jed Betts, 16 Ben Gunn, 17 Jason Hewitt.