Rhinos still dream of semi finals

Magpie Dan Galloway is picked up by a Rhinos player at the Maclean Showground.

Debrah Novak

THERE’S nothing like a 40-point drubbing to motivate a team in its next appearance on home soil.

The Grafton Rhinos kept their semi-finals hopes alive with a clinical 58-16 win over Lower Clarence at Maclean yesterday.

With their final aspirations on the line the Rhinos have found some much-needed form going into next week’s showdown with the Ghosts at McKittrick Park.

A loss against the Magpies and a win by Byron Bay against Ballina would have seen the Rhinos bow out of finals contention.

Fortunately for them, Byron lost to Ballina 32-16 and Marist Brothers fell short against the Grafton Ghosts.

Rhinos coach Xavier Sullivan was a relieved man after the match knowing his side are still in the hunt for fifth spot on the ladder

“We needed to win today and get our season back on track,” Sullivan said after the game.

“A few players stood up today and showed what they are capable of on the field.

“And the win certainly helps our for-and-against with Marist Brothers losing to the Ghosts.”

Sullivan said apart from the result, the return to form of key players has his side bristling with confidence going into next week’s game.

“Joel Moss played his best game in six weeks and Todd Cameron took on the line very well,” he said.

Another player to shine was five-eighth and chief playmaker Ronald Gordon who has been out of sorts in previous weeks.

“Ronald hit the line with pace and provided quality ball out wide. And I thought Neori (Kuramalawa) was also a standout today,” Sullivan said.

“Neori had one of his best games of the season and made a huge impact off the bench.”

The Rhinos will have their biggest test of the season next week when they take on arch-rivals the Grafton Ghosts.

A victory will assure them a place in the five however a loss could mean they miss the play-offs on for-and-against.

Another intriguing aspect of the clash will be Ghosts fullback Anthony Don’s bid to break the NRRRL try-scoring record for one season.

Don only needs three more tries to write his name in the record books.