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Pressure. It's at its most intense during a Finals Series and that pressure only builds as you go deeper and deeper into it. You can either lap it up, handle the pressure and march on, or you can let it consume you, chew you up and spit you out. As we enter Week 2 of this Finals Series, there's no doubt that the pressure is the greatest we've felt so far this year. Will we handle it? I don't know, time will tell. One thing I do know is that we can't be afraid of the pressure because it's pressure that turns a lump of coal into a diamond. We certainly came away with the diamonds in a high-pressure situation and I'm sure we're all hoping for the same this week.
We take on the Sharks in a massive Week 2 Semi Final out there at our 'home' ground, Allianz Stadium. It will be a monumental occasion as it's all on the line and the stakes have never been higher this year. No more if's or but's, you either do or you die. The winner progresses to a Prelim against the Panthers while the loser is sent packing. The pressure will be on.
It's going to be a huge challenge to progress to that Prelim on Saturday night that's for sure. Cronulla are the real deal this year I believe, and they are a genuine Premiership contender. They finished second on the ladder for a reason and they've been one of the best sides this year no doubt about it. When you look at their roster, it's not hard to see why. Strike all over the park such as Kennedy, Mulitalo, their strike center pairing, dynamic halves in Moylan and Hynes, all behind one of the best forward packs in the comp led by Graham, Finucane, Rudolf and Hunt. When you read out some of those names, you realise we're really up against it this week. They may have gone down in their Qualifying Final last week, but I think that makes them more dangerous this week as the bounce back factor will be there, and they'll be incredibly fired up. The key to this one is going to be holding their forward pack through the middle and limiting the chances you give Hynes and their dangerous outside backs.
For us, it's all about whether or not we can back up last week's performance. No doubt it was amazing, and it will be difficult to produce that two weeks in a row but the fact of the matter is, we need to. We need to come out firing and full of emotion, just like we did against the Roosters. Play like that, and we'll be very, very hard to beat. So, it all comes down to whether we can do it again. I know we can!! In Finals games like this, every single moment matters so it's important we win those moments. Hold the ball, complete your sets, take opportunities, show intensity in defence and make your tackles and finally, keep your head, keep your discipline. We are capable of doing all that on paper, it's now about putting it out there on the field when it really matters. Thankfully, Cronulla are not our absolute arch-rivals, so I don't expect this game to be as fiery but in saying that I still want us to be as emotional as we were against the Roosters because it's that kind of intensity that gets you home in the big games.
So, will we lap up the pressure or will we crumble under it? We will find out on Saturday night. What I do know, is that we can bloody do this! The belief is there, and we can create something special if we're on. Sharks are a big roadblock to get past but we are capable.
Let's gooooo!!
We take on the Sharks in a massive Week 2 Semi Final out there at our 'home' ground, Allianz Stadium. It will be a monumental occasion as it's all on the line and the stakes have never been higher this year. No more if's or but's, you either do or you die. The winner progresses to a Prelim against the Panthers while the loser is sent packing. The pressure will be on.
It's going to be a huge challenge to progress to that Prelim on Saturday night that's for sure. Cronulla are the real deal this year I believe, and they are a genuine Premiership contender. They finished second on the ladder for a reason and they've been one of the best sides this year no doubt about it. When you look at their roster, it's not hard to see why. Strike all over the park such as Kennedy, Mulitalo, their strike center pairing, dynamic halves in Moylan and Hynes, all behind one of the best forward packs in the comp led by Graham, Finucane, Rudolf and Hunt. When you read out some of those names, you realise we're really up against it this week. They may have gone down in their Qualifying Final last week, but I think that makes them more dangerous this week as the bounce back factor will be there, and they'll be incredibly fired up. The key to this one is going to be holding their forward pack through the middle and limiting the chances you give Hynes and their dangerous outside backs.
For us, it's all about whether or not we can back up last week's performance. No doubt it was amazing, and it will be difficult to produce that two weeks in a row but the fact of the matter is, we need to. We need to come out firing and full of emotion, just like we did against the Roosters. Play like that, and we'll be very, very hard to beat. So, it all comes down to whether we can do it again. I know we can!! In Finals games like this, every single moment matters so it's important we win those moments. Hold the ball, complete your sets, take opportunities, show intensity in defence and make your tackles and finally, keep your head, keep your discipline. We are capable of doing all that on paper, it's now about putting it out there on the field when it really matters. Thankfully, Cronulla are not our absolute arch-rivals, so I don't expect this game to be as fiery but in saying that I still want us to be as emotional as we were against the Roosters because it's that kind of intensity that gets you home in the big games.
So, will we lap up the pressure or will we crumble under it? We will find out on Saturday night. What I do know, is that we can bloody do this! The belief is there, and we can create something special if we're on. Sharks are a big roadblock to get past but we are capable.
Let's gooooo!!