Perth Gold prospects for 2006

[Burgs]

How do you think defending champions Perth Gold will go in this years freshly expanded Australian Rugby Shield?
The format is two Pools with a Semi Final and Final.

Pool 1: Darwin Mosquitoes, Queensland Country Heelers, NSW Country Cockatoos, ACT & Southern NSW Vikings

Pool 2: Melbourne Axemen, Adelaide Black Falcons, Perth Gold, Tassie Jack Jumpers

Fixtures: http://thewholeforce.com/html/ars06.html

[Redbull]

We're in the better pool.

The other one would be a nightmare. To win the pool you would be doing well.

Other than Darwin all those other teams will be good, ACT have some very good players.

If they win again they would have played really well.

[Happy]

don't we get a home game ?

[Burgs]

Not in the rounds Happy, which doesn't help the profile, but if we top the pool then we should get the Semi.
As defending Champs we would hopefully host if we get through to the Grand Final.
I think they have tried to help the traditionally weaker teams by having their matches closer to home to try and balance the comp a bit.
All good touring experience for the Gold fellas though if they go on to get a Force call up one day.