Young Razorbacks to put their foot down

ANTONY STEWART | July 17th, 2010

THE Razorbacks' youthful line-up has brazenly dared the FNQ Bulls to get physical at their own peril tonight.

A severely depleted North Queensland will hit the field at Brolga Park for what is looming as a crucial State League showdown as both teams eye a third-place finish and a home elimination final.

Minus experienced heads Keiran Gonzalez (England), Lorenzo Sipi (hamstring) and David Mayes (knee), among others, the Razorbacks head into the game with an average age of about 19. It is seemingly the worst possible timing coming into a game against the only team NQ are yet to beat in the QSL.

But teenage midfielder Michael Coppo believes it may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

"They're a physical side, I think they usually out-muscle us a bit, but hopefully we can get on top of that," Coppo said, referring to the Bulls' respective 3-1 and 2-0 triumphs over the Pigs this season.

"We've got a bit of youth in the team now with a few injuries this week, so hopefully the youth and the speed can get around them and bypass the strength of them."

Coach Ken Mitchell said he was equally confident the inexperienced group had it in them to break their Bulls hoodoo.

Both teams come into the clash on the back of mixed form the Razorbacks having lost their past two and the Bulls looking like world-beaters one week and slumping to a shock result the next.

FNQ, who boast two of the QSL's top three goal scorers in David Ruiz and Josiah Rusch, are also coming off a promising mid-week defeat to Oceania club champions Hekari United, 5-2.

"It was a very good effort, but I just hope it continues with the form of the teams that play midweek ... that have lost on the following weekend hopefully playing midweek's a bit of a hoodoo," Mitchell laughed.

A loss will not end NQ's hopes of a third-place regular season finish, but a win would go a long way towards securing it.

"They're only one point adrift off us, so we definitely need the three points off them," Coppo said.

"They have done us in the first two rounds, so it would be good to get them back in the third round and secure third spot."

North Queensland may receive a boost to their experience stocks with Lee Mayberry rated an "80 per cent chance" of playing by Mitchell after the midfielder sustained and ankle injury last round.
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