Lucky break for Swans

MAROOCHYDORE coach Mark Brandon says a four-week break from the field has helped his squad return to full strength.

Ricky Duncan is back on the paddock for Maroochydore after answering an SOS from coach Mark Brandon. Picture: Nicholas Falconer

MAROOCHYDORE coach Mark Brandon says a four-week break from the field has helped his squad return to full strength.

Having been beaten by Caloundra on April 17, the Swans have not played a game since due to a bye, the Easter break and the 47th Battalion representative carnival.

While the club is itching to get back on the field, Brandon says the lengthy spell has given some of his injured troops enough time off the park to fully recover before the clash against the defending Caloundra RSL Cup premier.

“We had a run of injuries and against Caloundra we had six players unavailable,” he said yesterday.

“But guys like Ricky Duncan, Troy Frankom, Tim Ross and Brad Reed are all back. We’re basically at full capacity.”

Brandon said he had tried to get the squad into game mode by holding high-intensity training sessions this week.

“We’ve put in some good training sessions and we had a two-hour session this week to make up for it,” he said.

“We did more work than in a game, but you can’t beat match fitness.”

Maroochydore has two wins and a loss after three matches and Gympie has won only once in its four starts. The Devils lost controversially last weekend after the lights went out while they were trailing Beerwah 18-6.

“They’re last year’s grand final winners and they’ll be desperate,” Brandon said.

“Our players are jumping out of their skin. Keeness won’t be a problem – execution is the biggest matter.”

Swans prop Ricky Duncan has been a surprise acquisition for Maroochydore after answering an SOS from Brandon.

“He was retired but we were hit with that many injuries, I asked him to come back,” Brandon said.

CABOOLTURE forward Paul Savage has been found guilty of striking Kawana’s Jack Noble and will miss three matches through suspension.

Savage was sent off in last Saturday night’s match against the Dolphins and Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League chief James Ward said the lengthy ban showed the league was serious about its zero tolerance policy.

Originally published as Lucky break for Swans