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Time to move onto the next one as a new week brings with it a new game. This week, we look forward to what is set to be an absolutely monumental clash that has massive ramifications for both teams. That's right, it's Round 25 and we have a trip up the M1 for a bit of Sunday arvo Footy against the Knights. As I said, massive game given where both sides sit, and come the end of the Season, this could well decide who makes the Finals and who doesn't. So, it's going to be one of those pressure cooker games with Finals-like intensity. You've gotta say, the pressure is certainly on us, especially playing them at home.
Honestly, we're in for one hell of a game if the recent form of Newcastle is anything to go by. Since losing a reasonably close one to Penrith many weeks ago, they've really found their mojo and found their groove to the point where they're now in red-hot form and look certain to play Finals. I'd even go as far as saying they're one of the form teams of the comp at the moment and if everything went well for them, on their day, they'd go close to beating anyone. They play a very tough, but also very expansive style of Footy that is hard to defend, we saw that yesterday in their first half onslaught against the Dogs. Up front, they've got a pretty good forward pack that can match it with anyone. Lead by the Saifiti brothers and Frizell, but backed up strongly by guys like Fitzgibbon, Elliot, and Thompson, they never really struggle for go-forward. In fact, that's probably been one of the keys to their recent success, that their forwards have really stepped it up and dominated games so we're in for a tough battle through the middle. Then of course, that id before you even start thinking about their backline, sheeesh, it's good when you look at it. Of course, the main man and the main threat is Ponga. He's in outstanding form at the moment but with a backline also including Young, Gagai and Best, you're really up against it. Their halves are also in good form. So, it seems everything is just clicking for them, and they'll come into this game seeing it as a huge opportunity.
I wish we could say the same and say things are clicking for us, but they certainly are not. Although we got a much-needed result on Saturday, it was far from convincing, and it was really not a good performance yet again. We're going to have to be so much better on Sunday, and I mean soooo much better, or I'm afraid Newcastle are going to absolutely clap us. They will bring what they bring, but we can't be worrying too much about the opposition when we don't have our own game in order. That's why this week, as cliche' as it is, the focus really has to be on us. I want to see the coaching staff and the squad really knuckle down and say, 'enough is enough.' Our poor form has been going on far too long and I'm sick of it. Where is the team we know we have? It's still in there somewhere and I hope we find it this week. I can't believe we're in this position, but it's really getting down to the do or die stages now and we really need to win these last two games. That should be all the motivation the boys need so I want to see the attitude spot on on Sunday. It was better over the weekend, but we're going to need even better than that if we are to prevail in this one. That's probably the biggest thing. Next on the agenda is the errors and execution. It's pretty simple really, we cannot complete at anything less than 80% this week and expect to win this game so it's really time to nail our execution. I'm not exactly confident we'll do that, but you never know. Our attack has really deserted us lately, so I'd love to find it again this week. Then of course, we need to see the defence on the improve. It was better against the Dragons but the Knights are a different beast and we'll need to step it up. A big positive is that we're a chance of having both Tatola and Sele back so that will really help.
The pressure is on and our backs are really against the wall but strangely, there's a part of me that still thinks we can do this. On potential, of course we can. On current form though, you'd have to say no. So, it's time to turn it around boys and turn it around fast. A win here makes a statement and has the potential to really change things. A loss could be catastrophic. Over to you lads, show us what you've got.
Glory, Glory.
Honestly, we're in for one hell of a game if the recent form of Newcastle is anything to go by. Since losing a reasonably close one to Penrith many weeks ago, they've really found their mojo and found their groove to the point where they're now in red-hot form and look certain to play Finals. I'd even go as far as saying they're one of the form teams of the comp at the moment and if everything went well for them, on their day, they'd go close to beating anyone. They play a very tough, but also very expansive style of Footy that is hard to defend, we saw that yesterday in their first half onslaught against the Dogs. Up front, they've got a pretty good forward pack that can match it with anyone. Lead by the Saifiti brothers and Frizell, but backed up strongly by guys like Fitzgibbon, Elliot, and Thompson, they never really struggle for go-forward. In fact, that's probably been one of the keys to their recent success, that their forwards have really stepped it up and dominated games so we're in for a tough battle through the middle. Then of course, that id before you even start thinking about their backline, sheeesh, it's good when you look at it. Of course, the main man and the main threat is Ponga. He's in outstanding form at the moment but with a backline also including Young, Gagai and Best, you're really up against it. Their halves are also in good form. So, it seems everything is just clicking for them, and they'll come into this game seeing it as a huge opportunity.
I wish we could say the same and say things are clicking for us, but they certainly are not. Although we got a much-needed result on Saturday, it was far from convincing, and it was really not a good performance yet again. We're going to have to be so much better on Sunday, and I mean soooo much better, or I'm afraid Newcastle are going to absolutely clap us. They will bring what they bring, but we can't be worrying too much about the opposition when we don't have our own game in order. That's why this week, as cliche' as it is, the focus really has to be on us. I want to see the coaching staff and the squad really knuckle down and say, 'enough is enough.' Our poor form has been going on far too long and I'm sick of it. Where is the team we know we have? It's still in there somewhere and I hope we find it this week. I can't believe we're in this position, but it's really getting down to the do or die stages now and we really need to win these last two games. That should be all the motivation the boys need so I want to see the attitude spot on on Sunday. It was better over the weekend, but we're going to need even better than that if we are to prevail in this one. That's probably the biggest thing. Next on the agenda is the errors and execution. It's pretty simple really, we cannot complete at anything less than 80% this week and expect to win this game so it's really time to nail our execution. I'm not exactly confident we'll do that, but you never know. Our attack has really deserted us lately, so I'd love to find it again this week. Then of course, we need to see the defence on the improve. It was better against the Dragons but the Knights are a different beast and we'll need to step it up. A big positive is that we're a chance of having both Tatola and Sele back so that will really help.
The pressure is on and our backs are really against the wall but strangely, there's a part of me that still thinks we can do this. On potential, of course we can. On current form though, you'd have to say no. So, it's time to turn it around boys and turn it around fast. A win here makes a statement and has the potential to really change things. A loss could be catastrophic. Over to you lads, show us what you've got.
Glory, Glory.
