A WIN for Wanderers will secure all-important first place on the Mid-West rugby league table and the right to home finals.
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But before they start thinking about the post season, they face an improving and in-form Cloncurry side at Alec Inch Oval tomorrow from 3pm.
Cloncurry scored an inspirational win over second-placed Normanton with 15 players last weekend, signalling it is on the improve as finals loom.
“Ever since we played Cloncurry early in the year, we knew they would be a team on the rise at the end of the season,” Wanderers coach Alan Baillie said.
‘They showed it last week that they can match it with anyone in this league by securing third spot on the ladder.”
Baillie knows it’ll be a tough match, not unlike a finals match, in which he’ll need his big-game players to step up.
“I’ll be looking to Corey (Carlson) to continue his strong form he showed for the Queensland Outback side last Saturday,” he said.
“Both Adam Kleier and Shane Kutz will be asked for big performances also with a number of players out through work.”
“If Kleier and Kutz and dominate in the forwards, we should be in a good position.”
If first place wasn’t motivation enough, the club will be honouring former clubmate Brett Kelly, who passed away recently, this weekend.
“Brett was one of those guys that proves that sport can bring anyone together,” Baillie said.
“When he first came to the club, he didn’t know much about rugby league but knew a lot about people.”
“He was one of those guys that put his hand to do anything from run the waters to cook the barbecue.”
Wanderers president Matt Watts echoed the tribute to Kelly describing him as a person highly regarded in the rugby league community.
“There is a service being held at 11am at Good Shepherd Church before the match,” Watts said.
“Between the service and match and after the match, people will be heading to the Barkly Hotel to remember his life.”
“His immediate family will be in attendance at the match, which will hopefully be a deserved tribute.”
The Barkly Hotel will be running a free bus from the Barkly to Alec Inch Oval and back again for patrons.
All Wanderers life members and their families are encouraged to come down to the match and Barkly Hotel.