CAPTAIN HENJAK RETURNS TO BATTLE THE FLEET

[Darren]

ET Perth Spirit captain Matt Henjak will return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against the Sydney Fleet at North Sydney Oval.

The strong running scrumhalf has recovered from a knee injury which kept him out of last week’s match against the Canberra Vikings.

Also back from injury is winger Haig Sare, who will make his Mazda Australian Rugby Championship debut on Saturday.

Lachlan MacKay is set to start at inside centre, with Junior Pelesasa moving to outside centre and Ryan Cross shifting to the bench.

Troy Takiari also moves into the starting team at tight head prop, while AJ Whalley switches to the loose head.

In other changes, hooker Tai McIsaac will play ahead of Luke Holmes while flyhalf James Hilgendorf swaps with Scott Daruda, who moves to the bench.

ET Perth Spirit Head Coach John Mulvihill rated the Sydney Fleet as the strongest of the competition’s three New South Wales teams, consisting of players from the city’s three leading clubs.

“They have a very strong pack, as evidenced by the only pushover try in the tournament so far,” Mulvihill said.

“They have a strong set-piece focus, and their back play revolves around two very dangerous footballers in Daniel Halangahu and Morgan Turinui,” he said.

“This is going to be another tough match and we will need to improve on last week’s performance to meet the challenge.”

The squad is:
1.AJ Whalley
2. Tai McIsaac
3. Troy Takiari
4. Tom Hockings
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Luke Doherty
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava

9. Matt Henjak (c)
10. James Hilgendorf
11. Nic Cummins
12. Lachlan MacKay
13. Junior Pelesasa
14. Haig Sare
15. Cameron Shepherd

16.Luke Holmes
17.Kieran Longbottom
18. Scott Fardy
19. Will Brock
20. James Stannard
21. Scott Daruda
22. Ryan Cross

Prop Pek Cowan will miss the rest of the competition after fracturing his right ankle in last week’s game against the Vikings. Also unavailable for selection due to injury are winger Ratu Siganiyavi, who damaged his hamstring in the same match, and flanker David Pocock, who suffered a knee injury against the Western Sydney Rams.

[Burgs]

Still no Boof.
Getting some great match time for the Hockings/Timani pairing.
Looking a pretty handy team to stitch Sharpe, Giteau, Staniforth and Mitchell, Pocock, Pusey and Vedelago in to next season...

[slomo]

good to see yak back! he was sorely missed last week,

[rick boyd]

It is good to have Henjak back but he will need a lot more protection from his loosies than Stannard got last week. The pressure Stannard was put under made him look very ordinary, and he's better than that. The Vikings got away with murder on the offside line and as the ref wasn't going to do anything about it, the Spirit failed to adjust and tried to work up too close to the defence. They never had enough space and were rushed and pressured as a result. A much better performance needed this week. Much more competition needed in the rucks too, and a quick, clean delivery of the ball.

[James]

Yeah I think its a bad idea to play Richard Brown at no 7. We always seem to get dominated at the breakdown whenever a specialist 7 isn't played (ie Highlanders this year- and since that Hodgo and Pocock always played). Also I am glad RC has been moved to the bench too, he seems to go from playing very well to very poorly game to game.

[Skiza]

Welcome back Yak!!!
Go the spirit :

[Burgs]

Who did you have in mind James?
It's pretty much out of Brock and Fardy on the bench.

[jargan83]

Go the yak!!

[JediKnight]

welcome back Henjak....play a blinder this week!!!

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Go Yak, and all the forwards get your finger out.

[Jehna]

Lachlan MacKay is set to start at inside centre, with Junior Pelesasa moving to outside centre and Ryan Cross shifting to the bench.

Thank god for that....

[Darren]

First time Mackay has started since the inaugural Force match back in February 2006

[Jehna]

First time Mackay has started since the inaugural Force match back in February 2006

Mm wasn't too concerned about him...more getting junior into outside centre and crossie on the bench...he's been dismal. But I do think it'll be good game time for Mackay...

[Darren]

Oh, ok...

[James]

Who did you have in mind James?
It's pretty much out of Brock and Fardy on the bench.

Yeah, forgive that I was just in a very bad mood. Not much can be done.