MELBOURNE Rising breakaway Shawn Ingle will make his Shute Shield debut for the Hunter Wildfires against Eastwood on Saturday and will soon be joined by a few mates.
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Ingle has trained for two weeks after completing 14 days in quarantine and comes into the side for Piers Morrell, who has a minor shoulder complaint.
Born in South Africa, Ingle moved to Melbourne to attend University in 2017 and played for the Rising against Japan A last season.
"Shawn is a genuine openside breakaway and we don't really have another one," Coleman said. "Piers did a good job against Randwick but he is more of a six. He picked up a shoulder issue and hasn't been able to train. He is confident of being right by Saturday but I'm not going to risk him. It's not do or die and I don't want to bust him.
"Shawn has had two weeks of training and came down last Saturday as 25th man. Hopefully he will be able to slow their ball down and get into them a bit. Our accuracy at the cleanout was terrible against Randwick. We weren't really getting beat to the breakdown, but we weren't shifting the first threat."
Ingle will be joined on Friday by fellow Rising player, fly-half Michael Maloney.
Maloney, 25, has been in quarantine in a Sydney motel after arriving back from Canada.
He won't play against the Woodies but should be available for the visit by premiers Sydney Uni on August 1.
"I've watched a lot of video of Maloney," Coleman said. 'He is a tall, rangy No.10 and has a really good kicking game. He will give us a bit of experience and direction."
Powerhouse back-rower George Osi Noa and 200cm-lock Jeremy Burrill arrived from Melbourne on Tuesday and are in self isolation.
Noa, who can also pack down at blindside, played for Warringah last season before joining Melbourne Rugby Club, who are the defending premiers. However, their competition has been cancelled.
"We want to test our boys at the higher level but also add to them with a couple of top-end players," Coleman said. "Hopefully they can lift the standard and stay in the area for years to come."
In other team changes for Saturday, Seva Rokobaro replaces Va Talaileva at lock.
"We have brought in Seva to give us a bigger body and give him a go at starting," Coleman said.
"Eastwood have a massive pack and play a lot more rumble ball. They like to drive off their lineouts and have a really big 12 who crashes all day and a big winger they use off set pieces."
The Wildfires backline has also been reshuffled following the eight tries conceded in the 50-7 loss to Randwick.
Rob Buserau shifts out to the wing with Hayden Cole moving to outside centre.
"It gives us another communicator out there," Coleman said. "When we had Rob and Nimi on the right edge, neither of them are strong talkers in defence."
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