Three In A Row

Three In A Row

By Josh Kemp for Bunnies TV.

Rewind to just a month ago. We were beaten by the Cowboys in Magic Round. Sitting in last position on the ladder. We had the worst defence in the competition and the worst points differential by some margin. 

Whilst there were signs of improvement since Ben Hornby took over this season couldn’t finish soon enough. 

Then after that game it was announced that Wayne Bennett would be taking over. It was as though that announcement flicked a switch. Here we stand exactly a month later after that loss winning 3 in a row, with a bye in there, off the bottom of the ladder. 

We no longer have the worst defence or the worst points differential. 

The Shifting Attitude

There has been a real attitude shift in defence. You didn’t have to look very hard to see that on Friday night against the Broncos. Yes they still were making breaks, but the improvement in our scramble was evident for all to see. Every time it wasn’t just one or 2 players. We had several there to chase and clean up the Broncos errors. 

They say there is plenty of luck in the game. Yet we all know you make your own luck. Look no further than the effort by Jacob Gagai. Chasing down Ezra Mam. The communication at the back was brilliant. Every man involved knew their role and who they had. 

What many may not have noticed was on the other side. Alex Johnston screaming in to stop the threat on the other side and then cleaning up the loose ball. 

A couple of months ago that would have been a try under the posts. 

Three Tries

Tries to Damien Cook, Keaon and Latrell in the first quarter saw us in a great position. The Broncos did test us in that second part of the first half. Although many times their ball control let them down. 

Even being a man down for that last 10 minutes of the first half the boys kept turning up for each other. They weren’t going to allow themselves to give up points that they so easily had in that final 5 of a half so often this season. 

Witnessing History

Not even 10 minutes into the second half and we get to see a sight that we so often have seen over the last decade. Alex Johnston crossing for a try. That was try 191. That saw him move to outright 2^nd on the all time try scoring list. More importantly he became the highest ever try scorer for a single club, South Sydney. We just witnessed history. 

That was it for our night in regards to points. We did lose our way a bit after that. Losing Latrell to the bin didn’t help either. What made that incident even worse was we also lost Cam to HIA, which he did later pass. 

Deine Mariner Double

The Broncos finally cracked us. It was poor defence by AJ. Something he will learn when you have cover on the inside don’t fall for their inside step. 

In those final minutes we were really starting to drop off tackles. Fatigue looked to be setting in. They finally made us pay with 3 to go with Deine Mariner getting his second try. By then the game was over. 

It was time for the Burrow to start singing “Botany Road”. It was another win.

Our Best

Damien Cook had his best game for some time. His game is really helped by the forwards laying the platform. Something they had really struggled doing earlier on. Once again led by Keaon in the middle. This was his 3^rd week in a row running over 200 metres. 

Davvy Moale is really making that starting prop position his own. Each week he continues to grow. Who could forget that hit on Payne Haas? 

Tallis Duncan is another who is really standing up. He had his best all round game. There was a tackle in the 2^nd half that was so Cam Murray like. Without his headgear on I thought it was Cam, only to see him get up and appear. 

Jacob Gagai is another all effort player. He keeps putting his hand up. He hasn’t looked out of place in first grade. 

Trell & His Kicks

Latrell once again was one of the stand outs. Scoring tries, setting them up. One on one steals. Isn’t it great seeing a happy Trell? That is when he is at his best. Then there is his kicking game. 

Our kicking game is probably the area we have improved the most overall. If it’s not Latrell, then it’s Jack Wighton. Not only our kicking game though, but our chase. So often now we are competing for the kicks and getting results. Once again we score a try through competing for a kick. 

The best kick of the night for my was by Jack Wighton in that 2^nd half. We were struggling to get out of our own end. A deep kick where the Broncos player allowed it to bounce. The ball then rolled on. Not only the kick, but the chase as well. Cam Murray was there to make the tackle and have the Broncos playing the ball inside their own 10 metres. 

Continue The Growth

Now it’s about continuing to grow our season. Finals footy still looks a little bit too far a reach right now. Win a few more in a row and then who knows? 

This week it is Manly at Accor. We lose both Cam and Latrell to Origin. Whilst they lose 3 of their own including the ever impressive Daly Cherry-Evans. Like us, they have their injury concerns as well. 

I’m expecting to see a debutant this week in the form of Liam Le Blanc. Let’s hope that come 9:30pm Saturday night he will be belting out the victory song with the boys. 

Three In A Row.