QUEANBEYAN Blues utility Ben Nicoll is looking forward to the second half of the Canberra Raiders Cup competition in a new-look halves pairing with young gun Tom Leddy for at least another two weeks.
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The East Queanbeyan venture will look to continue its re-found form when it returns to the field for the first time in three weeks to take on the Tuggeranong Bushrangers at Seiffert Oval on Sunday.
But with regular halves in former Canberra Raider Marc Herbert and Andrew McLean battling ankle and bicep injuries respectively, Nicoll will partner Leddy in the halves during a period he believes will be good for his men.
"We've had a lot of injuries this season, but a lot of the boys are starting to come back now, so we've pulled through the tough times and we're in a pretty good spot," he said.
"Forwards Levi Freeman and Michael Cullen are some of the best forwards in the comp, and they're back now so we need to back that up."
The Blues have bounced back with wins in their last two games after suffering two shock early losses to the Queanbeyan Kangaroos and the West Belconnen Warriors.
Leddy has had two starts in the halves already with the Blues, while Nicoll has interchanged there at times, and he believes despite still missing Herbert and McLean the Blues could go on to be a force at the back end of the competition being just one win from the top.
"In our loss to West Belconnen we finished the game with 12 players, so it was really tough," he said.
"But there's no excuses now as we're in a much better spot."
"Myself and Tom Leddy will give it a good crack. It'll be great for him to get another start and not come off the bench. He's a talented young five-eighth."
Meanwhile Blues Canberra Region Rugby League representatives Tyler Stevens, Freeman and Cullen should each back up from Last Saturday's 34-28 loss to Newcastle Region in Wyong.
Stevens said his men were unlucky not to get an intense win after leading 16-0 early on.