We often associate our team with not having the mental strength to win games that we need to.
It could be either;
- Beating a struggling team to gain momentum
- The season is on the line and we need to make the 8 or even the top 4
- Or, more recently to win a game to avoid the wooden spoon
These are the games we lose - Any Parra fan knows what I mean here and we can smell these games from a mile away.
In the last 3 weeks, this smell was certainly in the air. We could have lost close games against the Warriors, Dragons, and Knights... all of which had their seasons on the line and came ready to fight for it.
Instead, for once... we won.
It might be a small thing, but for me it's huge. For once I get to enjoy watching our team put in the mental and physical effort to end the seasons of 3 teams in a row while also improving along the way.
Warriors: Sure we had a fortunate call at the end go our way - but we deserved to win that game.
Dragons: They have a good team with a strong forward pack, who are just a little down on confidence... we never let them into the game and controlled it from start to finish IMO.
Knights: This was a big one and our best win of the year against our bogey team, plus they have a really strong team across the park that should have beaten us. The knights didn't lose because they played bad, they lost because we blew them physically off the park in the first half and had the mental fortitude to come from behind and manage the game for the win in the second half. We never let them into the game apart from an early second-half kicking spree - our defense was EFFING fantastic and should be applauded. How many attacking sets did they even get? Kalyn Ponga, some say the best player in the game did nothing... Pearce = Nothing. Klemmer = Nothing. The whole team stood up and performed.
Titans (Next week): By god, if we lose this match I'll cop a hammering and deserve to, but I'm not scared. We'll win, and I'm predicting to win strongly.
Sure, we have a long way to go to compete with the current top 4 teams, but none of those top 4 teams are coming off the back of a wooden spoon. The one thing we share with them is that we're showing form at the right time of the year!
Just take a second to enjoy this moment in our season, because it's not too often something that goes our way.
Replies
You've captured how I have felt about the season and especially the last three games. As confident as I feel today, that odour will return before game day next weekend.
100%, and don't forget the entire board they can all go too!
How good was Timmy's try and conversion yesterday for wenty and you want to make an example of him. Shame on you poppa, I thought all you over the hill nursing home bums stuck together.
Damn, didn’t see it. Where did you watch it?
Wenty played before Parra game and even though they lost Mannah scored in last minutes in front of post and kicked the goal. He got he decent cheer from the crowd and was good see him get chance to convert. Wenty aren't guaranteed to score many more tries in last few games so good to get it out of the way now.
We’re becoming a team that never gives up. It takes time to get that reputation and we need to keep at it but it’s a quality all the best sides have. It’s based on defence and that has improved tremendously in the past month. line speed and contact is looking good
Agree. Still, quite some distance to go but the signs are showing.
The difference in line speed last night was hugely noticeable.
Yep agreed. We've seemed to have gone away from the high scoring flashy game where we rack up big scores one week but get thrashed the next. To a more sustainable mature game that provides consistency and is replicable week in week out. Our last 3 games have been our 3 narrowest wins but the main thing is they were wins.
Spot on Slugg. Go the Eels.
Great blog mate. It was an enjoyable read. Hopefully our good form will help us go deep into finals
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