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Time to switch the focus to our second to last game of the Regular Season. We've said that every game from now on is bigger than the last and that certainly rings true this week as we take on the second placed Cowboys in a huge game at home. It is an absolute blockbuster! There's a lot riding on the game for both teams as we're both trying to secure a home final but it's important for us in particular as we are yet to be 100% safe in the 8. This is a must win this week, we really don't want to go into Round 25 absolutely needing to win. Must win on Saturday night.
That is no doubt going to be easier said than done against North Queensland. Who would have picked it at the start of the year but their resurgence has been absolutely insane. Tipped to collect the spoon, they're at the opposite end of the ladder and find themselves currently sitting in second place. I think they're there for a reason and they deserve it. Make no mistake, the Cowboys are the real deal this year, a genuine Premiership contender. That's why this game is going to be really tough for us and we're really up against it. Huge challenge that will once again, really show us where we're at. North Queensland just have so many guys in form all across the park and you could almost rattle off their whole team as guys we need to watch out for. However, I think Drinkwater, their halves, Nanai, and Taumalolo in particular are the ones we need to be really wary of. This game will once again be won in the middle. We lost that battle against Penrith last week so will be needing to stand up this week.
For us, as I said earlier, it's about stepping up those levels. We may have lost last week but it's the kind of loss that hopefully gives us a bit of confidence because we really did step up that level and almost got the result. But I also think the loss should see us come out really fired up to bounce back and right the wrongs of last week. We need to. With a spot in the 8 on the line, a home final on the line, we really need to get a result here. I'm sure the boys will know that. They'll know what needs to be better this week if we're to have any chance of beating the Cowboys. For me, the biggest thing is cutting the stupid stuff out of our game. That's what cost us last week it's as simple as that. If we want to beat North Queensland, you just can't afford to do that stuff, so we need to cut it out. Hold the ball, complete your sets, take our opportunities, execute and there needs to be 100% focus in defence, don't miss your assignment. We didn't do some of this against the Panthers and that's what cost us so we can't afford to make the same mistakes in an arguably bigger game, probably our biggest of the Season.
I can't wait but at the same time, I'm already very nervous and its only Monday!! This is the week we find out what our team is really made of. Will we stand up in the face of adversity and get the job done? Or will we fold under the pressure? Those 17 men out there in the mighty Red and Green will decide. Do us proud.
That is no doubt going to be easier said than done against North Queensland. Who would have picked it at the start of the year but their resurgence has been absolutely insane. Tipped to collect the spoon, they're at the opposite end of the ladder and find themselves currently sitting in second place. I think they're there for a reason and they deserve it. Make no mistake, the Cowboys are the real deal this year, a genuine Premiership contender. That's why this game is going to be really tough for us and we're really up against it. Huge challenge that will once again, really show us where we're at. North Queensland just have so many guys in form all across the park and you could almost rattle off their whole team as guys we need to watch out for. However, I think Drinkwater, their halves, Nanai, and Taumalolo in particular are the ones we need to be really wary of. This game will once again be won in the middle. We lost that battle against Penrith last week so will be needing to stand up this week.
For us, as I said earlier, it's about stepping up those levels. We may have lost last week but it's the kind of loss that hopefully gives us a bit of confidence because we really did step up that level and almost got the result. But I also think the loss should see us come out really fired up to bounce back and right the wrongs of last week. We need to. With a spot in the 8 on the line, a home final on the line, we really need to get a result here. I'm sure the boys will know that. They'll know what needs to be better this week if we're to have any chance of beating the Cowboys. For me, the biggest thing is cutting the stupid stuff out of our game. That's what cost us last week it's as simple as that. If we want to beat North Queensland, you just can't afford to do that stuff, so we need to cut it out. Hold the ball, complete your sets, take our opportunities, execute and there needs to be 100% focus in defence, don't miss your assignment. We didn't do some of this against the Panthers and that's what cost us so we can't afford to make the same mistakes in an arguably bigger game, probably our biggest of the Season.
I can't wait but at the same time, I'm already very nervous and its only Monday!! This is the week we find out what our team is really made of. Will we stand up in the face of adversity and get the job done? Or will we fold under the pressure? Those 17 men out there in the mighty Red and Green will decide. Do us proud.
