New Zealand has answered its opening-round defeat with wins over Melbourne, Brisbane and Northern. A 28 to 6 victory against the Marlins left the Renegades with three wins, six competition points and a plus-70 points difference after Round 4.
Rohky Rivaz is the obvious focal point after two tries, 264 metres and six tackle breaks against Northern. Tyler Keen added 242 metres, while Jett Mercer and Jye McCartney also crossed. The challenge for South Coast is broader than shutting down a single runner.
The Stingrays demonstrated their scoring potential in a 36 to 12 Round 3 win over Northern, but followed it with a 20 to 10 loss to Brisbane. They had only 44 percent possession in that defeat and conceded three tries inside 18 minutes. Allowing New Zealand a similarly fast start would put them under immediate pressure.
South Coast's opportunity starts with the ball. New Zealand held 60 percent possession against the Marlins, creating repeated chances for its powerful runners. The Stingrays need longer attacking spells and a more secure opening to make the ladder leaders work through a different sort of contest.