CDRL Round 14: Atherton look to regain favour against Kangaroos

The Kangaroos are surging back to relevance, while the Roosters are clambering to keep control of their season.

DIFFERING trajectories have the Roosters and Kangaroos set for a pivotal CDRL clash this weekend.

Atherton’s cascade of injuries have had them losing their last two games.

Pointscoring whiz Ty Grogan remains in the casualty ward for the Roosters, as does Graham Clark, Caleb Foster and James Coyle.

Coach Graham Clark Snr said his side is eager to get its stellar season back on track after a much needed bye. “We’re still struggling without a few key players, as we have for the last few weeks,” Clark Snr said.

“But (it’s) all positive, we had a good training session on Thursday night.

“Kangaroos are a quality side, we’re looking forward to the contest.”

His side will be buoyed by the return of skilled Rooster five-eighth Jermaine Pedro.

Atherton Roosters’ Jermaine Pedro. Picture: Brendan Radke

The last time the two sides clashed in May, second-placed Atherton belted Kangaroos 48-18.

Since then, however, the boys in gold and blue have strung together four impressive wins from six matches to have them eyeing a spot in the top four.

With the wounds inflicted on the Roosters in recent weeks, Clark Snr said he was concerned for the tests his depth will face in the coming rounds.

“We’re just not getting the support from the back-up players we need,” he said.

“We need to look really hard at our reserve grade, we need to change that somehow.

“We need some older experienced players to lead the next batch of kids, because we’ve got some really good kids who aren’t quite ready for A-grade, but they lose interest.”

A huge match between Ivanhoes Knights and Innisfail will pit the CDRL’s No. 5 and No. 4 teams respectively against one another at Smithfield.

CDRL É Edmonton V Kangaroos Edmontons #8 Cooman Hayes (check spelling) is tackled by the Roos defence during the game against Kangaroos at Edmonton.

A struggling Edmonton Storm will use homefield advantage to try and take down Southern Suburbs.

The Tully Tigers will travel to Yarrabah to face the Seahawks, as both teams seek to claw their ways out of the league cellar.

Brothers will take on the Mareeba Gladiators at home, while top team the Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks have a bye.

The Cairns Post will be livestreaming the clash between the Roosters and Kangaroos on Sunday at 3pm.

Originally published as CDRL Round 14: Atherton look to regain favour against Kangaroos