RUGBY LEAGUE
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The Dragons injury woes have an inevitable flow-on effect for the Illawarra Cutters but back-rower Chris Lewis says it’s just that scenario which has brought out the best in his side.
In what some might consider a return to the natural order, the Cutters will play the main curtain-raiser to the Dragons clash with the Cowboys in the second leg of a triple-header at WIN Stadium on Saturday. However, most of their regulars will feature at 7.30pm with Kiti Glymin, Nathan Green, George Rose and Justin Hunt all called up to NRL level.
It was an opportunity Lewis seized upon last season, cementing a spot on the left edge during the Cutters’ run to the preliminary final after initially being told his services wouldn’t be required last season.
He plans on making similar use of his opportunity this time.
‘‘Sam Coster and I were cut at the start of last year but we just went away and played good footy and fought our way back in,’’ Lewis said.
‘‘There’s ups and downs but you’ve just got to take your opportunities when you get them. Sammy Coster’s probably been one of the best players this year, he’s a great lock-down defender in the middle.
‘‘If you get a shot you’ve just got to take it when you can.
‘‘It’s good to be back in and hopefully I can make the best of this opportunity.’’
Lewis joined the squad last year as the Cutters won nine of their last 12 games to reach the prelim final and he said it’s important they start a similar run against last-placed Wentworthville on Saturday.
‘‘We’ve definitely got the talent in the squad,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s a few NRL level players there, Russell Packer’s an international and he’s been playing great footy and Shannon Wakeman was probably our best player last year and he’s still around.
‘‘We won’t know who we’ll have, I don’t think they’ll know either. It’s a tough time of year to play.
‘‘We lost to them last time ... they’ve got some big boys out there and they can steamroll you if you don’t come ready to play.’’