There’s no doubt the Dubbo Kangaroos outfit is a genuine Blowes Clothing Cup premiership contender but the task of winning the title has been made that bit more difficult following the departure of Viliame Turuva.
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Turuva lit up the opening half of the Blowes Clothing Cup season, proving key in the Roos’ rise to the top thee in the competition but in late June he returned to rugby league and linked up with Dubbo CYMS in Group 11.
Despite playing for both sides in the one weekend at that stage, Turuva will now solely play in Group 11 with the Fishies.
While his versatility and attacking spark was a highlight of the Roos’ play, he wasn’t in the lineup last week and the Roos still managed to score 52 points despite Sione Lolohea being sent off inside 10 minutes.
“It is disappointing but you’ve just got to handle it,” Roos skipper Shaun McHugh said, saying his side’s focus rested elsewhere.
“We’re undefeated at home and we’re out to maintain that.”
Turuva’s absence is not the only one within the Roos ranks leading into this weekend’s bumper Ken Laird Cup clash with the second-placed Bathurst Bulldogs.
Lolohea was handed a two-week suspension for last week’s high shot while Kinscher headlines a number of injured players.
Veteran Jason Coyle is in the frame to line up on the wing while youngster Hamish Smith is expected to play at flanker in Kinscher’s absence.