TOP DEFENCE: Gatton forward Dennis Burgoyne is tackled by Warwick captain Mick Bloomfield (12), Dan Murphy (6), Coen Martin-Brown and Ben Sullivan are in support in a win against Gatton in round 1.
TOP DEFENCE: Gatton forward Dennis Burgoyne is tackled by Warwick captain Mick Bloomfield (12), Dan Murphy (6), Coen Martin-Brown and Ben Sullivan are in support in a win against Gatton in round 1. Ann Bichel

Cowboys prepare for VIP match

RUGBY LEAGUE: Forwards Mick Bloomfield and Ben Sullivan and centre Joe Fuimaono are three of the best for a Warwick Cowboys team, aiming for a top-five finish this season

Warwick plays the Pittsworth Danes at Pittsworth on Sunday.

Coach Phil Economidis was talking everything positive about his team.

"Mick Bloomfield has been a revelation as captain. Josh Cruice is also playing well after missing four weeks after a suspension from the Barrett Shield game,” Economidis said.

Economidis said the win against the highly-placed Highfields side was the best performances this season.

"We played tough in the Gatton win against a big pack of forwards. It was a great win,” he said.

He has all players on deck this weekend so won't be offering any excuses if the Cowboys lose to the same club which beat them in the 2016 grand final.

The only injury worry is hooker Ben Sullivan, who is in doubt after the state divisional championships, where he played three games at the weekend.

"Craig Donn has made a miracle recovery from a back injury,” Economidis said.

"He has been cleared to play and we will make use of his versatility off the bench but won't overdo it with his first game back.”

The one player the Cowboys have missed all season is goalkicking winger Dan Watson, who suffered a shoulder injury.

His younger brother Mitch returned from a broken hand in last weekend's win against Oakey.

Kai Etherington was the star goalkicker from the Under-18s last season and has proved he could make the jump both as a kicker and winger to A grade.

Cowboys' vice president Danny Lyons rated this Sunday's game against Pittsworth as the most important to date.

"We are just ahead of them on the points table,” Lyons said.

Both Warwick reserve and Under-18 teams need a win to stay in touch of the top-five.

A-grade game is at 2.30pm Sunday.

Last season, a top-six was played but the number of finalists has reverted to the more traditional five for the 2018 season.

After this weekend, Warwick players will have a weekend off due to the mid-season Madsen Rasmussen and President's Cup finals at Valleys headquarters, Herb Steinohrt Oval, in Toowoomba.



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