Eagles player-coach Josh Rose believes a hit-out against the Mariners and his squad's intensity at training will make up for a lack of matches in a "strange" preparation for Sunday's Northern NSW NPL grand final against Maitland.
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The premiers have played just two games - a 9-0 drubbing of Adamstown and an major semi-final win on penalties over Broadmeadow in the wet - since losing to the Magpies 2-1 at Cooks Square Park on September 26.
That was the start of a six-game winning run for Maitland, who finished fifth before overcoming injuries to beat Charlestown on penalties. They then regrouped to thump Olympic 4-0 before striking late to beat an off-target Broadmeadow 2-0.
The Eagles came back three times to draw with Broadmeadow before again clawing back a deficit in the penalty shoot-out to qualify straight through to the decider and earn a second week off in the finals.
A bye in the second last week of the regular season gave them a third week off over the past six weeks.
To compensate for the lack of games, Edgeworth have held intra-club matches and last Saturday they took on Rose's former club, the Central Coast Mariners, in a trial at Tuggerah.
The A-League squad, in the early days of pre-season, led 4-0 at half-time. Mistakes at the back handed the Mariners two goals but the Eagles responded in the second half to score twice late for 4-2.
Maitland skipper Carl Thornton suggested on the weekend that the Eagles could be underdone for the grand final at No.2 Sportsground but Rose said the Mariners match and the work ethic of his squad would hold them in good stead.
"It's been a strange one to manage with all the byes but I think as far as the mental freshness goes, it's been a real benefit," Rose said.
"Then to get some of these games on the back of that has been really good.
"The major semi against Broadmeadow took a lot out of us mentally and physically, so just to have that week to get over that before another big game has been incredible. It's been good for us in regards to a few boys having niggles and just to get everyone fresh again.
"And with the quality in our squad, our training intensity is really high and it hasn't wavered from that. Our reserve squad, when we play internal games, they are very good. Obviously against the Mariners, the intensity was incredible.
"The boys are in good spirits and they are buzzing. They can't wait to play again and that's what you want."
Will Bower, who is battling a groin injury, and Rose sat out the Mariners friendly. Rose said the first half was "an eye-opener" for the Eagles but they responded well after half-time.
"They are right in the mix of their pre-season and they are all fighting for their spots," he said.
"They brought everything they could to impress, so for our boys to have a hit-out at that level was incredible.
"Then for our boys to come out and win the second half 2-0, it's a credit to them to show they can change a few things and match it with those guys when they need to."
He said Adam Cawley, who has struggled with injury this year, helped create an own goal for the Eagles' opener.
He said Bower pulled up sore from the Magic game, but "he'll be right to get through what he can in one last game". Tyson Jackson hurt his back against the Mariners but Rose said "there should be enough time for him to get back for Sunday".
Rose has battled groin problems late in the season and rested against the Mariners.
"I was more in the mindset of sticking to a little bit of non-contact for the week and also giving some of the younger boys a chance against A-League opposition," he said.
"It was a good eye-opener for our boys and a real good test for them. I said to the boys before the game, this could be a little reward for you boys who are looking to go further.
"I pulled up well from the Magic game and I got through a good 75-80 minutes.
"It wasn't the groins troubling me, it was just general soreness.
"I took it easy last week and it was good we had the week off and we were able to manage a few things. Now we've got a good week to build up to this game."
Meanwhile, the grand final crowd will be capped at 1000 because of COVID-19 restrictions. Each club has been allocated 475 tickets for the 3pm match. Reserve grade (10.30am) between Broadmeadow and Lambton Jaffas will be considered a separate ticketing event.
Craig Kerry
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
