SOUTH Cairns will consider their season a failure if they lose tomorrow’s preliminary final, but it will be anything but a walkover against a Port side with winning form and finals experience.
The Cutters, the minor premiers, face going out in straight sets after losing last weekend’s semi-final to Saints and must topple the Crocs in what is being tipped as anyone’s game.
Coach Dan Lock conceded a loss and subsequent third- place finish would cut deep, but has not been dwelling on last weekend’s disappointment.
“We have expectations of ourselves and walking away in third with no grand final appearance would be a kick in the guts and a wasted year,” he said.
“It’s up to the 22 players on the day to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Critical of his players’ efforts last Saturday, Lock is confident they can make the improvements to beat a quality Port outfit.
“We haven’t dwelled on it, the boys are pumped and ready,” he said.
Port coach Brad Cooper watched his side lose last season’s preliminary final and won’t get dragged into talking about premierships just yet.
“If you think two weeks ahead, you’ll find yourself sitting in the stands on grand final day,” he said.
“Souths are minor premiers and we need to beat them first and it’s going to come down to whoever takes their opportunities.
“Saints just took theirs better than Souths last weekend – the forward 50s can’t have been much different – and that’s something Saints have been good at for years.”
Restricting Cutter Paul Smith’s influence will be key, while Cooper hopes he can again have a spread of goal kickers for his side.
“You can’t stop him kicking goals, I just hope we can pressure him, but it won’t be won by one player,” Cooper said.
“I won’t burden one player in my team (with the thought of having to win the game off their boot).”
Both teams will be missing key personnel with Adam Boone (Port) and Billy English (Cutters) not named to play.
Article courtesy of The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 21/01/2015 13:57