The return of Josh Merritt could not have come at a batter time for Macquarie with the star half to line up for the Raiders in Saturday’s huge Group 11 derby clash with CYMS.
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The Raiders have won just once through three rounds, going down to Parkes and Forbes in recent weeks, but Merritt’s return from suspension will be “immense”, according to captain and co-coach Zac Rennick.
Merritt hasn’t played since last season’s finals series at Nyngan when he was sent off in a fiery semi at Larkin Oval.
He received a seven week suspension for being the third man in and for striking but Rennick is thrilled about the idea of him teaming up with Willie Wright in the halves.
“Josh will be good and he will add some creativity to our backline and create some options,” he said.
“The last few weeks we’ve struggled to score points a bit so the addition of him will be immense.”
Merritt and Wright will be vital to the Raiders’ hopes of reversing a worrying trend appearing in recent derbies.
Since Macquarie won the Group 11 title in 2012 there has been just one win over CYMS.
That came in early 2014 in what was also then Raiders captain-coach John Grey’s final match for Macquarie before his controversial switch to CYMS.
Macquarie went close last season, going down by just two points, but Rennick confessed that statisitcs are a fair representation of the two clubs’ respective standings.
“It just proves CYMS has been the benchmark in the competition for a number of years,” he said.
“It’s been awhile (since we won) but we’ve trained well so we’re hopeful of putting in a good show.
“If you can’t get up for a derby then I don’t think you’ll get up for any game all year.”
If the Raiders are to score a shock win over the undefeated Fishies they will need to control the ball better than in recent weeks.
In the losses to Parkes and Forbes the Raiders were in the contest for long periods but dropped ball and penalties allowed both sides too many opportunities.
“Last week it was 10-6 at half time but we’d only had 35 percent of the ball so we just ran out of legs and a few calls probably didn’t go our way and we can’t afford to give up that much possession,” Rennick said.
“We’re improving but we’re struggling with how the ruck is being controlled. I’m not saying it’s the ref’s fault but we’re not adjusting to referee adjudicating the rule.
“We’re not the biggest side so we try and control the ruck but we’ve probably gone a bit far.”
Rennick added his side would struggle if it gave CYMS the bulk of the ball in Sunday’s game at Caltex Park. The derby action begins with League Tag at 10am.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
