SHE endured the frustration of standing on the sidelines, but now Mardi Watts is back to add to yet another weapon to what is already a devastatingly quick Bathurst Bulldogs' back line.
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The Bathurst Bulldogs skipper will line up for her fifth Ferguson Cup game of this season this Saturday at Ashwood Park, having recovered from a frustrating broken pinky finger on her left hand.
"I did it pretty much my first hit up in the Dubbo game when we played them out there. I played the rest of the half, but I came off after that. I sort of dislocated it and it went back in the next tackle," Watts said.
"It was pretty tough, I've never really been one who is good standing on the sideline.
"But I never really worried about the team because we've got so many good girls there. I wasn't really missed on the field, but I definitely missed it.
"I guess it did allow me to watch some of the new girls, Jacinta [Windsor], she's so good. She's in the run on side so it gave me a bit of time to watch her, I gave her a few pointers and anything I told her she just soaked it up like a sponge and did it straight away."
In the fortnight since Watts made her return she has scored three tries off the back of her speed and strong ball running.
Strength combined with blistering speed are qualities found throughout Bulldogs' back line with the likes of Windsor, Claudia McLaren and Ruby Clarke also huge threats if given space.
To have those sort of weapons to work off the back of a talented forward pack which boasts plenty of experience has been a key for Bulldogs, who currently lead the Ferguson Cup on for and against differential over the Dubbo Kangaroos.
Watts is hoping that style of play will lead her side to victory over Emus on Saturday, the Bulldogs having already posted a pair of wins - 26-12 and 55-22 - over the Orange outfit this year.
"We've both got pretty strong forward packs, strong ball carriers and are really strong over the ruck as well," she said.
"We are pretty lucky our backs are quick, so we definitely are going to try and suck them in with our strong forwards and strong ball carriers and then spread it wide. That's definitely the game plan and if we do that, then I think we'll be pretty hard to beat."
But while having faith in her team-mates, Watts knows Bulldogs must maintain their intensity throughout the contest in order to extend their streak against Emus.
"I think the best thing is we still have so much to improve on. I think we're yet to play a full game, we've normally lapsed in the third quarter, but if we can get all four quarters going then I think we'll be pretty good for the back end of the season.
"We have to work on our ball watching around the ruck, sometimes we're not eyes up on the footy in the defensive line. So we've definitely got to work on that because a team like Orange Emus can put a few tries on if we have a lapse."
Kick-off at Ashwood Park is 11.45am Saturday.
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