Watching won't be easy for Stupple

WATCHING tomorrow's game from the sidelines will not be easy for back-row forward Herbie Stupple.

The 21-year-old misses the match due to a shoulder injury.

Stupple has found himself watching the final 20 minutes of both Albion's opening two matches against Doncaster and the Pirates after going down with cramp.

In both games Albion found themselves desperately trying to hang on to leads.

They managed it against Doncaster, but not against the Pirates, who sneaked a 19-17 victory thanks to an 80th-minute penalty by Rob Cook.

Stupple admitted it was agony watching that from sidelines.

"That was the worst thing, especially when we were winning by one point," he said.

"It was horrible sat there watching that, but that's how it goes."

He added: "I like to think I was making enough impact in the first half.

"I felt like I did and that's why I was gutted when I did have to come off."

Stupple added: "Two weeks in a row I had cramp and they were in different places so I don't know what has been going on, really, as I have been hydrating."

Stupple had been desperate to play tomorrow.

He had recovered from the cramp in his calf but then found out he had hurt his shoulder. He is due to have a scan on it.

"It is a big game at home," he said. "Leeds are one of the top sides."

Albion beat Leeds last season at home and Stupple said: "We have to match what we did last year but also beat some of the sides we lost to as well.

"We want to beat Leeds again at home.

"We said we want to make Brickfields a fortress. We want to make it a horrible place for teams to come down and play us."

Stupple spent last season at Albion as a dual-registered player and made the move to Brickfields permanently in the summer.

He did have other clubs looking at him, but Stupple admitted he was glad he opted to stay at Brickfields.

"I got so close to everyone that I almost felt it would be a bad thing if I did leave," he said.

"It is probably the best decision that I have made so far.

"I am enjoying it and feel like I am playing well, which helps."

He added: "I feel even more close this year now that I am here full time.

"It is a really good place to be at the moment."

Stupple felt what the players went through last season with all the problems at Brickfields made them closer.

And he said: "We don't want to be that side that is fighting against relegation. We want to be battling for that top eight spot.

"We want to be up there with the best."