The Central Queensland Capras won’t be worrying about the Dolphins this weekend, but focusing on improving themselves during the pre-season trial.
With an eye on shoring up their defence, the CQ squad will take the opportunity to use the Dolphins’ impressive attacking outfit to their own benefit.
“A big focus will be on how we are going to play and not who we’re playing,” said CQ Capras head coach Lionel Harbin.
“We’re looking to improve on things that we’ve been working on in pre-season.
“We’ve changed a few things up defensively that we wanted to mix up and we’ve worked really hard in pre-season on that.
“This is a good opportunity to see where we’re at with that.”
It will also give Harbin and his coaching staff a chance to see what our new players and promoted young guns have to offer.
Harbin will be blooding a few new fresh faces in the match to see what they can offer the Capras this season.
Although the Capras will be looking at his new young stars, the head coach said he will be asking his accomplished Queensland Cup players to stand up and lead their side.
“When you’re going up against a side like the Dolphins you tend to lean on your experienced players,” said Harbin.
“Guys like Jack Madden and Blake Moore, Cooper Marshall is coming into his third year of Cup footy.
“Those guys who have experience, you want them to guide the younger guys around the field on Saturday.”
Speaking of Marshall, the Capras centre will have a tough task no matter which side of the field he finds himself on during Saturday afternoon.
NRL Dolphins assistant coach Nathan Fien revealed to CQ Today that two fan-favourites will be lining up in the outside backs against the Capras.
“We’ve got some experienced guys going to Rocky. Tesi Niu was pretty much in the NRL team all of last year,” he said.
“His performance and the way he has applied himself over the off-season has been tremendous.
“Val Te Whare burst onto the scene, also in the centres, when he got his opportunity.
“So those two guys in particular will get to press their claims in the centres.
“There’s other guys like Jack Bostock who finished the season really strongly. He will get an opportunity on the wing.
“And we’re very keen to see all of our train-and-trial players who have been working hard just as hard as our 30-man squad that we’ve got here at the Dolphins.”
