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A new week brings with it a new game and a new challenge to look forward to and it's a pretty massive week this week! A very exciting one though. It's almost like Finals Footy come early in Round 23 for us as we face the Sharks over there in Perth. Huge game, absolutely massive! We sit sixth, Cronulla are seventh on points differential, so a win here is crucial and could have a big bearing come the end of the Season. It really is a crunch game.
Will be great for the boys to once again get away together and get on the road. This time, making the big trip all the way over to Perth. I believe this will be the first time we've played in Perth since Round 1 2018, so great to take a home game over there once again to Optus Stadium. I know we're really well supported over in Perth and those fans over there will be chomping at the bit. It's a big trip to Perth which can take a lot out of a Football side if it's not done right but thankfully, I think the club is flying over today. We play on Saturday so that will give them plenty of time to adjust and be ready.
Not sure how to feel about the Sharks to be honest and I don't know if this is a good time or a bad time to play them. No doubt they're down at the moment, they've lost three games in a row now and quite badly too. This weekend just gone against the Panthers would have been especially demoralising for them. So, I'm sure they'd be well and truly down on confidence right now, and there'll be some soul-searching going on in that organisation this week. While that brings opportunity for us to potentially get them while they're weak and put another nail in the coffin, it could also be a bad time to play them. Because of the way they've been going, they'll be desperate. Absolutely desperate. I think they'll come into this one extremely fired up and ready to make amends and make a statement against us so their poor form could actually turn out to be quite dangerous. I can't see them playing anywhere near as badly as they did this weekend just gone, they'll be A LOT better, so we have to be prepared for that. On their day, when they get things right, Cronulla are one of the better sides in the comp. They really are. Lead by the superstar Hynes, their backline is world class with guys like Mulitalo, Katoa and Ramien. You've then got one of the better forward packs going around with the likes of Rudolf, Hunt, Hamlin-Uele, and Nikora. Not to mention the quality of Wade Graham and Cameron McInnes coming off the bench. So, it's a pretty intimidating side full of rep-quality stars that can match it with anyone on their day, and as I said, I'm expecting them to be a lot better this Saturday.
On the flip side, I'm expecting us to be a lot better too. Although we got the win last week, you certainly wouldn't say it was a great, polished performance. We still have a stack load of work to do so we need to crank that up this week and be better ourselves. Play like we did on Friday night and the Sharks will get us no doubt. Therefore, we have to be better in all areas. That all starts with the attitude for mine. I feel like this is going to be a Finals-like game in terms of the intensity so this will give us a good test of where we're really at. The boys have to come in with that intensity, get their heads right in between the ears and be up for it, fired up and ready to go. I want to see a fully switched-on side for the full 80. We can't afford to just turn up for 60 minutes against quality opposition, especially defensively. And defence will be the key to this one. I think we made improvements in that area, but it still wasn't where I'd like it and we need to be better. Cronulla will throw a lot at us, they're one of the better attacking sides in the comp so this week is all about defence, defence, defence. Literally, I think whoever defends better in this game wins, so we need to make sure that is us. If we can get that right, the rest will flow, it's as simple as that. I know we need to be better with the ball too, but that will be okay if we get the attitude and defence right. This is a big game, so I really just want to see the boys really tune themselves up and pump themselves up. We failed to do that against the Broncos, so this week is the do over. Let's hope the result is much better. Trell, with a game under his belt, will certainly help with that and I can't wait to see him go again. There's some doubt over Sele, and I'm pretty sure Tatola will be out, so the middle forwards are going to have to step up and lead the way.
Ahhhh I feel pumped for this one already and just want it to be Saturday already!! Big game in our Season so let's hope for a big result. I know we can do this and I think we will, it's just a matter of putting it all together against a more quality opposition. Have a good week lads, work hard, enjoy it and we'll see you on Saturday night!
Glory, Glory.
Will be great for the boys to once again get away together and get on the road. This time, making the big trip all the way over to Perth. I believe this will be the first time we've played in Perth since Round 1 2018, so great to take a home game over there once again to Optus Stadium. I know we're really well supported over in Perth and those fans over there will be chomping at the bit. It's a big trip to Perth which can take a lot out of a Football side if it's not done right but thankfully, I think the club is flying over today. We play on Saturday so that will give them plenty of time to adjust and be ready.
Not sure how to feel about the Sharks to be honest and I don't know if this is a good time or a bad time to play them. No doubt they're down at the moment, they've lost three games in a row now and quite badly too. This weekend just gone against the Panthers would have been especially demoralising for them. So, I'm sure they'd be well and truly down on confidence right now, and there'll be some soul-searching going on in that organisation this week. While that brings opportunity for us to potentially get them while they're weak and put another nail in the coffin, it could also be a bad time to play them. Because of the way they've been going, they'll be desperate. Absolutely desperate. I think they'll come into this one extremely fired up and ready to make amends and make a statement against us so their poor form could actually turn out to be quite dangerous. I can't see them playing anywhere near as badly as they did this weekend just gone, they'll be A LOT better, so we have to be prepared for that. On their day, when they get things right, Cronulla are one of the better sides in the comp. They really are. Lead by the superstar Hynes, their backline is world class with guys like Mulitalo, Katoa and Ramien. You've then got one of the better forward packs going around with the likes of Rudolf, Hunt, Hamlin-Uele, and Nikora. Not to mention the quality of Wade Graham and Cameron McInnes coming off the bench. So, it's a pretty intimidating side full of rep-quality stars that can match it with anyone on their day, and as I said, I'm expecting them to be a lot better this Saturday.
On the flip side, I'm expecting us to be a lot better too. Although we got the win last week, you certainly wouldn't say it was a great, polished performance. We still have a stack load of work to do so we need to crank that up this week and be better ourselves. Play like we did on Friday night and the Sharks will get us no doubt. Therefore, we have to be better in all areas. That all starts with the attitude for mine. I feel like this is going to be a Finals-like game in terms of the intensity so this will give us a good test of where we're really at. The boys have to come in with that intensity, get their heads right in between the ears and be up for it, fired up and ready to go. I want to see a fully switched-on side for the full 80. We can't afford to just turn up for 60 minutes against quality opposition, especially defensively. And defence will be the key to this one. I think we made improvements in that area, but it still wasn't where I'd like it and we need to be better. Cronulla will throw a lot at us, they're one of the better attacking sides in the comp so this week is all about defence, defence, defence. Literally, I think whoever defends better in this game wins, so we need to make sure that is us. If we can get that right, the rest will flow, it's as simple as that. I know we need to be better with the ball too, but that will be okay if we get the attitude and defence right. This is a big game, so I really just want to see the boys really tune themselves up and pump themselves up. We failed to do that against the Broncos, so this week is the do over. Let's hope the result is much better. Trell, with a game under his belt, will certainly help with that and I can't wait to see him go again. There's some doubt over Sele, and I'm pretty sure Tatola will be out, so the middle forwards are going to have to step up and lead the way.
Ahhhh I feel pumped for this one already and just want it to be Saturday already!! Big game in our Season so let's hope for a big result. I know we can do this and I think we will, it's just a matter of putting it all together against a more quality opposition. Have a good week lads, work hard, enjoy it and we'll see you on Saturday night!
Glory, Glory.
