Turn around time against Gruffs

Nathan Freeman (tackling) is fired up.

Max Fleet

THE Rum City is hoping the addition of a few new faces will save them from embarrassment this weekend against the Gladstone Gruffs.

In their last outing they were thoroughly outplayed by the Fraser Coast Mariners in Hervey Bay, but the return of Ian Kickbush, Bruce Dalton and Mitch Devitt could prove the difference at Wests Leagues Club this Saturday.

Bundaberg player Nathan Freeman summed it up better than most.

“We got pumped,” he said.

“They were all over us the whole time, there was no let-up.”

In fairness to Bundaberg, it was their first run as a unit, having come out of the Spring Cup from three different clubs.

“A few of us have played together at Alloway or at Buccaneers, but never together,” Freeman said.

He said since the humiliation there has been progress within their ranks.

“I think we’ve settled on a structure that works,” Freeman said.

That structure will revolve around their hard-working forward pack.

“Bruce is a big prop and his return will help polish our pack,” he said. “Gladstone play a much similar style to us so the battle is set up nicely.”

The two camps know each other well, having often played together in previous years.

“But after this weekend I’d say there will be a bit of rivalry,” Freeman said.

The Bundaberg Rumruckers over-35 side play the Condamine Cods in a 2.15pm curtain raiser, with the main game at 4pm.