HAMILTON are "miles away" from where coach Marty Berry believes they can get too and the former All Black simply wants the Hawks to have a crack against fellow Hunter Rugby heavyweights Merewether at Townson Oval on Saturday.
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The Hawks, super-charged by the injection of Kiwi forwards Chris Hemi and Taufa Kinikini, disposed of Southern Beaches 57-19 in round one.
They face a far tougher assignment in the Greens who opened their campaign with a spirited 24-23 victory over Wanderers.
Hemi and Kinikini, who hail from Berry's hometown Greytown, are among a host of fresh faces at Passmore Oval.
Talented fly-half Raniera Petersen is due back from New Zealand on May 7 and Liam Bowden, Bryce Madden and Sam McNeil are recovering from injury.
"It has been a bit of messy pre-season," Berry said. "We are miles away from producing what we can do. Our potential is pretty big but we are no where near that.
"I want everyone to have a good crack and keep trying to do things we have been working on at training. If we can do that, we will be hard to beat."
Against Beaches, Hemi anchored the scrum and crashed over for a try while No.8 Kinikini was a go-to man at the lineout and bent the defensive line.
"They are big bodies and are fit and pretty skilful," Berry said.
Merewether have lost breakaway Rhys Bray (dislocated ankle) and lock Ben Flemming (cheekbone) and coach Jamie Lind has spent this week "sorting out the carnage" from the rugged win over the Two Blues.
"We didn't break too many records at training this week," Lind said. "There was a bit of carnage from the game and I think a few blokes got themselves into a bit of carnage after it. We have tried to freshen everyone up."
"Hamilton were pretty impressive [against Southern Beaches]. They were excellent at the set piece and between Bill Clay and Angus Brown, who might be the best player in the competition, they controlled the game pretty well."
Wanderers also suffered casualties in the Anzac Day battle and will be without Davie Waller (broken thumb) and Hayden Cole (head knock) for the clash against University at Bernie Curran Oval.
Elsewhere, Lake Macquarie, under new coach Aminiasi Rainima, open their account at home against Maitland.
In the final game, Southern Beaches host fellow first-round losers Singleton.
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James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
