Friday Night Football

IT"S GOOD old fashioned football , and its headed to Kiama Showground on Friday night.

The Kiama Knights open their 2007 South Coast Rugby League campaign on Friday against the Warilla Gorillas in a blockbuster clash.

Knights" coach Tony Myers labelled the tribal clash an example of "good old fashioned football".

After disappointing seasons in 2006, both sides will be keen to get their 2007 campaigns off to the right start.

Myers is wary of facing the new-look Gorillas first up, although the visitors only won one game in 2006.

"They"re reinvented , they are going to focussed and well-drilled," he said.

Myers said he would prefer to catch heavyweights Albion Park-Oak Flats or Shellharbour on the hop in round one rather than a pumped Gorillas" outfit.

"Our season doesn"t end on Friday night ,as much as we want to win we want to compete first and foremost."

It is hoped more than 1000 people will make the trek to Kiama Showground on Friday night. First grade kicks off at 8pm, after under 18s at 5pm and reserve grade at 6.30pm.

After a 2006 season marred by injuries to key players and narrow losses, the Knights hope to claw their way into the top five this year.

"Last season we lost a lot of games by small margins , we just have to close games out," Myers said.

"I"d be disappointed if we didn"t make the top five."

A combination of untimely injuries and errors cost the Knights dearly at vital stages in 2006, something Myers wants to avoid this season.

"Brain explosions killed us last year , it"s been a long time since we"ve been in the situation to close a game out," he said.

"We haven"t got a lot of depth, we have to hope for a little bit of luck on that front.

"The boys have enough experience to know what"s expected now.

"We have some younger guys but we have some older heads in there too."

Myers nominated prop Sam Parr to lead the forwards charge, along with reigning Michael Cronin Medallist Daniel Gunning.

"Sam"s tough enough to make a go of it up front," Myers said.

"Zig (Gunning) just loves playing footy, even if you are having a backyard game he wants to mix it up.

"A lot of clubs other than Albion Park or Shellharbour rely on one or two guys mainly, so we"re not concerned about Zig leading our forwards."

"He"s taught our young guys a lot , his work rate is amazing."

Myers said Marc Laird, Scotty Morris and Sam Gallagher are set for breakout seasons.

The Knights also welcome back Tim Boniface and Dean Gentle while the Knights welcome new signings Chris Mellor and Aaron de Jager.

Gone from last year"s squad are Josh Elliott, Luke Gilmore, Brendan Nicholls, Cam Williams and Kurt Robertson.