The Kangaroos have leapt from the blocks in most games so far this season, and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has told his players to be on guard early.
“That first quarter versus the Kangaroos is an important one. They start well, we’ve just got to make sure we’re up and going,” Hardwick said in today’s press conference at the ME Bank Centre.
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Hardwick described the Kangaroos as a better side than what the ladder currently indicates.
“They’re a side that can score heavily, and that’s the thing we went through today. A lot of their KPI areas are right up where they need to belong.
“They’re a good side, they just haven’t had a couple of results played their way,” he said.
Despite North’s ability to get up and going quickly, Hardwick said the Tigers would back themselves in, as they do every week, but predicts another close contest, like in recent years.
“There’s been some really close contests, and I’ve got no doubt it’ll be exactly the same. I think we’re both similar clubs that have followed the same path.”
“There’s certainly a level of competitiveness which every side has, and we’re no different. We certainly look to putting our best foot forward and playing a good contested game.
“It’s going to be a hard, tough-fought game in close, and we’re certainly looking forward to it,” Hardwick said.
