Lions ready to pounce after long break

GGGM has not played a game of football in more than two weeks and the last time the Lions stepped onto the field they were upset by 38 points against Wagga Tigers at Ganmain Sportsground on July 14.

GGGM has then sat through the general bye and the competition bye in the past two weeks and the Lions will now get the opportunity to make amends when they travel to Leeton Showground to play Leeton-Whitton on Saturday.

“We were pretty flat before the bye,” Kotzur said.

“We have got ourselves into a good position on the ladder (second) and we want to make sure we maintain that position and head into the finals with some momentum.

“We are looking for a big performance this weekend and all the boys are really keen for it.”

Kotzur said he was hopeful the two-week break had allowed the players to refresh but revealed GGGM used the opportunity to complete a hard block of training in preparation for the finals.

“We pretty much worked our butts off over the two weeks,” Kotzur said.

“We had three really solid running sessions and a couple of lighter ones but it was a pretty heavy break.

“It (two weeks off) probably wasn’t ideal but hopefully it has given us a chance to get some run in the legs and also freshen up a bit as well.”

GGGM will head into the clash in second position on the ladder with nine wins and three losses while Leeton will be playing for its season on Saturday. With four rounds remaining until the finals, Leeton sits two wins behind fifth-placed Mangoplah-Cookardinia-United-Eastlakes and the Crows would need to topple GGGM to keep their chances of featuring in September alive.

Kotzur admitted GGGM was bracing itself for an onslaught from Leeton and said the Lions were prepared for Tasmanian recruits Matt Smith and Brad Carver to play for the Crows after both were late withdrawals last week.

“This is a massive game for us and it is for them because they need to win,” Kotzur said.

“We are expecting their best team to play and we are expecting a massive challenge against a quality side.

“It will be the same as every other week, every game is tough in this competition.”

While Smith and Carver will form a lethal forward-line combination for Leeton, Kotzur also pointed to the quality of midfielders Ben Curley, Brad Boots and Bryce O’Garey as dangers for GGGM this weekend.

“They have some really quality players that we will need to watch out for,” Kotzur said.

“Smith (Matt) has been kicking some goals for them and Carver (Brad) came here with big raps.

“Curley (Ben) played really well against us the first time so we will make sure we have a close-check on him and Boots (Brad) and O’Garey (Bryce) are both quality players as well.

“We know we are in for a tough challenge.”

RFL – round 15

Saturday

Leeton-Whitton v GGGM at Leeton Showground

Turvey Park v Coolamon at Maher Oval

Narrandera v MCUE at Narrandera Sportsground

Sunday

Griffith v CAK at Exies Oval

Wagga Tigers bye