It will be wet weather footy at North Sydney Oval today with plenty of rain falling in the city over the course of the morning. The nastier stuff looks to have moved on but the field has soaked up more than enough moisture to be considered a heavy surface.
Wenworthville will be coming into this encounter as favourites after surging back into form last week as they easily accounted for the early competition favourites in the Mounties 54-24. North Sydney on the other hand are anchored to the bottom of the table with only one win (and one bye) and were beaten comfortably by fellow cellar-dwellers Manly in round seven.
It has been a shocking fall from grace for the Bears, who were one of the powerhouses in the NSW Cup in 2013 and indeed, gave Wentworthville comprehensive beatings in the two times the teams met that season. One needs only to cast a brief glimpse at the names missing from this year’s roster to ascertain why they are struggling. Missing are Luke Keary, Apisai Koriasau and Tom Burgess while two more significant members of that roster in Justin Hunt and Nathan Peats have joined Parramatta in 2014.
There are still some threats spotted through the line up of the Bears. Nathan Merritt will be marshalling North Sydney from the back after Michael McGuire dropped him from first grade for Alex Johnston. Merritt will be looking for a big individual game as he looks to reignite his lacklustre form in 2014.
In the pack talented North Queensland recruit, Chris Grevsmuhl will be leading the way as he looks to stake his claim on a first grade jersey for the Rabbitohs.
For the Magpies today is a simple, but by no means assured, affair. With the man-mountain that is Junior Paulo spearheading the pack they will be looking to completely overwhelm the Bears in the ruck. Daniel Alvaro and Lorenzo Ma’afu will provide Paulo with excellent support in that area while powerhouse winger, Bureta Faraimo will be difficult to contain if he can get involved early in each set.
Wentworthville also welcome back Joseph Ualesi into the starting backrow after recovering from a neck injury sustained against Wyong.
There will be at least one forced change for Wentworthville before kickoff with starting lock, Taniela Lasalo taking part in Saturday night’s NRL game against the Cowboys.
Prediction: Wenty to prove to be far too strong for the struggling Bears. There is too much firepower in both the pack and the backline of the Magpies for North Sydney to mark up against.
Wenty by 20 points.
#merkinpower
