MELBOURNE might be the reigning World Club Champions, but they insist there is still plenty to play for in 2013.
A number of their squad missed out on Grand Final and World Club Challenge success through injury, including winger Matt Duffie, and the players believe the missed opportunities will drive them to even greater heights this season.
“It’s been pretty tough missing the Grand Final and again missing the trip to England,” Duffie, who spent his darkest hours on Skype to his family in New Zealand from his one-bedroom apartment near Chapel Street in Melbourne, says in this week’s Big League Season Preview.
“It’s definitely hard after getting injured to motivate yourself… [but] hopefully I can become consistent and stay on the park.
“Teams are going to turn up and try to bash us off the park, but we’re ready.”
Duffie says the new injection of blood in Melbourne will add even more enthusiasm to the all-star and all-conquering line-up.
“We’ve lost five players from last season and the guys who have come in – like Lagi Setu and Junior Moors, who I think will have a good year – have trained really well,” Duffie says.
“And I don’t think any club could get bored of winning premierships.”