THE break in Group Three Rugby League for the long weekend was timely for Forster-Tuncurry, coach Phil Adamson said.
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The Hawks were hit by a spate of injuries for the clash against Wingham on June 2. While they stayed in the contest until halftime, the Hawks capitulated in the second half to go down 66-8.
However, Adamson said the Hawks will welcome a host of players back for Sunday's vital match-up against Port City at Tuncurry.
The Hawks and Port Macquarie sit in equal fifth place on six points, one clear of Taree City. Port City's in fourth spot on eight points.
Keda Moylan, Matt Wakefield, Beau Lowry, Chris Simon and Blake Richardson are all back on deck and Adamson said his players have come back refreshed from the break.
Moylan will play fullback, with Lowry returning to the centre. Wakefield is the five-eighth while Simon and Richardson will join Matthew Thomas on the bench.
"We had a good training run on Tuesday night and the attitude's positive,'' he said.
"I've told them to forget about the last game. We had blokes pulling out all through the week and it was always going to be tough.''
Instead Adamson wants to focus on Sunday and beyond and said the Hawks a win over the Breakers would be a huge boost the his side's semi-final aspirations. The Hawks have four more matches at Tuncurry this season while two of the away games - against Taree City and Old Bar, are against teams below them on the competition ladder.
Adamson said the Hawks will continue to monitor the progress of second rower Luke Ross, who is recovering from a hamstring strain.
"We'll give him a couple more weeks,'' Adamson said.
"There's a break in the comp next month so we'll be looking to bring him back after that and hopefully have him firing for the end-of-season matches.''