Cats unstoppable in Shield competition
BY ALEX TIGANI
Last year’s grand final appearance was just the beginning for the Muswellbrook Cats.
The powerhouse has clawed through the third-tier competition so far with commanding wins over Singleton (208 points), The Entrance Bateau Bay (45 points), Maitland (91 points) and Gosford (43 points).
They now prepare for the Singleton Roosters before facing off against last year’s semi finalist Newcastle City and demoted Men’s Plate outfit Lake Macquarie.
Co-coaches Matt Dunn and Cameron Benkovic, who has already kicked 20 goals, believe their side can go all the way in 2023.
“Happy with how we played (against Gosford) but started a bit slow and took us some time to get the game how we wanted it,” Dunn told The Hunter River Times.
“Once we got there, we had control.”
In a further blow for the Singleton Roosters’ reserve grade side, a squad which has produced a for/against of 7/550, the Cats will be welcoming back Jake Gurtman, Liam Cullen, Dylan Horton, Jordan Macaehern, Hayden Fox and Jayden Galvin.
Galvin slotted 11 of Muswellbrook’s 31 goals when the sides last met in Round 1.
“Alec Duncan really impressed me on Saturday, only played 4 games and just keeps getting better and better,” Dunn added.
The Muswellbrook Cats last won a premiership in 2005 when playing in the Tamworth region.