“Big Mitch to Return for Trophy Clash” After scoring sixteen tries from eighteen games for Wattles in the 2013 Toowoomba Rugby League season, bustling back-rower Mitch Koina has mostly languished in the ‘Warriors’ injury recovery room in 2014, making just one appearance in the green and gold colours. While there is still a fraction of doubt about his fitness, he has been named in Wattles top grade side to contest their first Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy final since 2005 on Sunday at Clive Berghofer Stadium. Coach Luke Duggan has a real appreciation for the match winner he has in Koina, “but we won’t be taking any unnecessary risks with him.” “I don’t see any point risking players” said Duggan, “you don’t win Grand Finals in June.” While there is an injury concern regarding halfback Matt Duggan taking the field, experienced first grade campaigners Liam Ross, Dan Manley, Jamie Dodt & Tim Hentschel will miss Sunday’s big game through injury. Duggan is a vital cog in the Wattles machine, but should he be ruled out his talented brother Ryan Duggan will wear the number seven shirt. Galloping second-rower Mitch Koina was a key component in Wattles engine room last year, a major contributor to the ‘Warriors’ climbing from their basement position in 2012 to a major semi-final berth last year. After teaming up with his brothers Brod & Joel wearing the ‘green & gold’ in 2013, Mitch endured a shoulder reconstruction in September last year. “The shoulder’s been an issue since I was 17, injured it at a State representative carnival in 2009” said the 22 year old, “it got progressively worse over time until it became to painful to play with”. While named in Wattles first grade side for the Round 5 clash with Valleys, late concerns saw him sit the game out, but he was more than keen to take on Highfields the following week. After taking the field in the 27th minute for the first time this season, he scored a try on the end of a thirty metre gallop with his first touch of the ball, only to have to head back to the bench after a hamstring tear. The former ‘Clydesdales’ forward and Newtown junior will run on this Sunday with many of Wattles hopes on his broad shoulders. The injury Gods have frowned on the ‘Warriors’ yet again, which has Koina’s return all the more vital. For the first time this season the Koina trifecta of Mitch, Brod & Joel will be on the playing field at the same time, a necessity for Wattles chances of victory. Joel is a brilliant centre & Wattles top try scorer to date, Brod among the form forwards in the ‘Warriors’ pack. Despite the injury hype, Wattles have been able to boast depth throughout the 2014 season. They will be calling on that depth against the Gatton ‘Hawks’, depth that has backed up their eight match winning streak of the nine first round games played so far this year. As he tries to beat the clock to be fit to play on Sunday, Captain Matt Duggan is confident his ‘Warriors’ outfit have the goods to produce a win and add the club’s name to the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy a fifth time, after victories in 1984, 1997, 1998 & 2005. Glyn Rees
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 07:16:42 +0000
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