DUBBO Rhinos captain Brett Austin has heaped praise on returning flanker Sam McLeod, stating he alone can help turn the battling side's Blowes Clothing Cup season around.
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While stopping short of saying the Rhinos are a one-man team, Austin stated last week's match against local rivals Kangaroos would have been far different if McLeod was in the lineup.
The hard-working flanker returns this week for the trip to Bathurst to take on Bulldogs and the skipper is hopeful his return will help the team begin matches better.
"Definitely the start and first-up tackles," Austin said when asked where his side needed to improve most.
"Our contest on the ball has been brilliant and it will be even better with Sam McLeod back so if we can take it one step further that would be even better.
"We're not a one-man team but Sam would have saved us about 30 points last week with his tackling and work-rate."
McLeod's absence was notable last week as the Rhinos were humbled 54-7 by the Kangaroos.
The Rhinos were a much improved side in the second half against their local rivals but the match was all but over by that stage after the Roos had raced out to a 40-7 lead by the break.
"It was the same the game before against Emus," Austin said.
"We were a bit slack in the first half and then finished strong.
"We spoke about it at training and we need to work it out because we're killing ourselves and not giving ourselves a chance when we're down by 30 or 40 points."
In terms of Saturday's match, Austin is expecting a bruising encounter.
The Bulldogs may be currently in seventh spot but the Rhinos are preparing for one of their more difficult matches of 2016.
"Bulldogs have always tough as long as I've been around Blowes and that's about 13 years," Austin said.
"It's not often they have a bad year and they win when they've got to.
"I think they're going to be like us and come home strong this year, they've done a bit of travelling first up."
Austin totally expects his side to get better as the season goes and the Rhinos players become accustomed to the rigours of the Blowes Clothing competition week in, week out.
He added it won't be likely the team will field its best 15 before the round 10 clash with the Mudgee Wombats.
But McLeod is one of a number of players expected to be available for not only the Bulldogs clash but also the match with Narromine the following week.
Saturday's match kicks off at 3.15pm at Bathurst's Ashwood Park.