Prop Bailey Butler (above left) and winger Trai Fuller (above right) aren't the most vocal members of coach Glen Dreger's Rangers squad but he expects both to make plenty of noise against the NSW Pioneers in their interstate clash at Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast today.
(UPDATE: Bailey Butler scored the first try of the match and Fuller crossed for three four-pointers in the 46-16 Rangers win.)
"The pair may not say much, they are happier doing their talking on the field," said Dreger, impressed by his players' attitude and intensity during training over the past four days.
"We've had a really good week, they've gelled, they all know what we have to do. Everyone is onboard," said the coach.
"We want to start really strong, be on the ball and push up for each other."
There's Hope
Dreger confirmed young Tristan Hope (another Redcliffe charge) would have the responsibility of leading the side with Logan Spaander (Western Lions) his vice-captain.
"He (Hope) has been super impressive at training. He is a really good kid with a really big future," Dreger said.
"He is a really good talker, an excellent organiser and quite a skilful hooker."
Dreger's game-plan will be built around the basics - completion and defensive commitment.
"Firstly we have to make sure we complete our sets," he said.
"We have to respect the ball and make sure we do all the little one-percenters, that requires effort from everyone."
One to watch
Butler, who played all his football with the Yeppoon Seagulls until he was aged 17, is a player to watch.
Still eligible to play Colts, he created quite a reputation with Redcliffe in the Mal Meninga Cup.
Before his selection for the Queensland Rangers, he rated representing the Queensland Indigenous side that beat NSW in 2014 as the highlight of his budding career.
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Dreger has a big opinion of the recently turned 20-year-old, who has had a brief taste of the Intrust Super Cup with Redcliffe but is still developing and growing.
"Bailey has enormous potential. This could inspire him to get where he wants to be," the Rangers coach said.
Off-load worry
Butler said he enjoyed the 'hard stuff' in the middle.
"I have an off-load but I am scared to use it," he smiled - a natural fear for young players given the pressure they are under not to make mistakes.
"I just do the tough stuff. I like running the ball."
Not surprisingly, Butler's favourite player is fellow Indigenous star Sam Thaiday.
"Every time he (Thaiday) grabs the ball he runs into the opposition like he doesn't care about his body.
"He just runs as hard as he can. I want to play like that."
Try threat
Fuller, a real flyer from Eidsvold (about 200km west of Maryborough), is capable of scoring some long-range tries.
The 21-year-old, a product of the strong St Brendan's College, Yeppoon, will play on the wing today but he can also slot into fullback if needed.
"Attacking is my game. I don't like that defensive stuff much," he said with a laugh.
Famous flair
Fuller was embarrassed by suggestions he played with similar style and flair as Indigenous stars Preston Campbell and Matty Bowen.
"I like how they played and Ben Barba, the way he always backed up through the middle.
"That's how I like to play, trailing the big guys up the middle."
