Speaking on Best 22 assistant coach Gary O’Donnell says he - and the entire coaching department - is very excited about Michael Hurley’s return to the senior side for this week’s clash against Sydney at the SCG.
“Michael Hurley is a key defender, but he can go forward. He’ll play defence for us, on a Richards type or O’Loughlin, even a Barlow,"" he said.
""It is good to have him back and have another look at him. He’s got a long strong body for his age. In a few years he is going to be a monster.""
O'Donnell also said he is confident that Jobe Watson will play.
“We think that Jobe will be right to play, we’ve got a training session on Friday and we’re expecting him to play,"" he said.
""Sydney is a big stoppage team, smaller ground and the SCG and he’ll be invaluable with his big body.
“He becomes a focus for them to for them to stop and maybe allows some of the guys around the stoppages to help out.
“Mark McVeigh is back after his club imposed suspension and he is a similar type body that we need against Sydney.
“He’ll spend a good part of the time in the middle, and he’s had two weeks of being able to run pretty hard and not do much else. When you aren’t playing the fitness staff really get on top of you and there is a lot of hard sessions to do, he’s done them, so hopefully he is able to come and give us a lift against the swans.
”His (McVeigh's) best effort will help erase the memories of the last few weeks and the challenge of gaining and keeping respect never ends, he’s found that out. He needs a good game just to set the scene for him again.""
