THATTO Heath Crusaders forward Jamie Tracey is preparing for tomorrow's opening Lions tour game in western Australia.

The Lions play at North Beach Sea Eagles, where they will be up against a Western Australia Chairman's X111 on Saturday, 19 October.

Tracey spoke from the Lions camp about the trip, bonding with team mates, his family, the time difference and his room mate.

He said: "Everyone has bonded really well. As I expected, it's a good set of lads.

"We had a really good run out yesterday.

"The legs were a bit tight after the long flight after the first few days but we've trained well and I'm now looking forward to the game on Saturday ahead of the first test."

"At the end of the captains run we all came together to say about how proud we are to be here and what it took to get here."

"I'm a bit emotional because this is my last tour. I know I've not got many years left to play now, so I'm grateful for all the experiences. My family is coming over too, which makes this all the more special. They are staying in Sydney for a week and then coming across."

Initially the time difference caught him out.

"I forgot to change my watch, so I messed up a little bit. So the first day me and Jacob, we were up from 4am, we'd unpacked, had a walk, been to the gym, got a bit of breakfast and shopping all before 8 and by the afternoon we were done in," he said.

"To be honest it's been a lot easier coming out here, the excitement takes over."

Jamie is rooming with West Hull's Jacob Moore and the two of them are getting on really well.

"He's a good lad is Jake. I know a few of the West Hull boys and have always got on well with them. and Jake is no different!"

Jamie did draw the line at a cross-Pennine move next season though!

"I owe the lads at Thato Heath, with all the fundraising and everything. A lot of people have helped me out, all the lads, my family, the chairman Mike Denning. I've got to thank everyone at Thatto Heath. It means a lot," he finished.

The Lions game against a Western Australia Chairman's X111 kicks off tomorrow at 3.30pm Perth time, 8.30am in the UK and will be available to watch at: https://youtube.com/live/f_LLwHpGDRE?feature=share