Reserve Grade
Finals footy for the newly named Warriors in 2008 and the first time in 5 years for any side from the Uni. The boys trained this week like no other time this year and the coaching staff could sense something special was brewing.
We traveled to Wagener for a wet and windy affair and we knew that if we lose… well, that is 2008 all over.
We met before the game around the centre bounce and I spoke on the field about the season so far and that the work had been put into get here and I said to the team that if they wanted this game it was there for the taking. Passion, discipline, team, you, me and must were some of the words that met them in the sheds as they prepared for the game. Everyone that was available was in there and they looked as though they had a job to do. Pup was down and the boys got around him along with the others that unfortunately missed out. But this is what this team is about, 40 odd great guys that just get things done.
We one the toss and went with the breeze to try and go to the first break with a lead and we did that but only marginally. Astro and Claw up front were tough and some strong marks had the scoreboard in our favour. Silly penalties and umpire chat cost us and we need to get this out of the game guys, as it does us no good at all and we give them field possession they do not deserve. Half time had us 2 points up after one of the best quarters of football this side has played all year. We met them head on and playing into the wind held them out. Mighty, Marshy and Busta lead by example with tackle counts that any NRL star would be proud of. We played tough and I knew come the second half we would get over top of them.
Quarter 3, we came out of the sheds to start the game again. Mission - kick 4 goals and keep them scoreless. We got the goals but so did they and we had a 21 point lead going into last break. We MUST not let them take what we came here to do and fought so hard for. I spoke to them at the last break pretty reserved and just asked them to believe in themselves and it was up to them to take the game and allow us to take on the Wolves next week.
We hung on and fought like no other. We shut down play after play, answered their goals with goals and smashed them around the ground with constant pressure and relentless tackling. Impact players that I spoke to during the week simply stood up this week. I was so proud as the siren blew that yes, we in fact can now have another week to prove to the Sydney AFL community that the Warriors are just that and we will fight to the end.
A week to prepare now for the game to win to go into our first grand final in years! Guys I want you to prepare like we did last week and come Saturday afternoon we will see where we are and evaluate once again the following week.
Remember my changeroom words as this I believe is the difference between us the rest of the teams out there.
Go Warriors
Lethal.
Mac Uni 13–14-92 beat Southern Sharks 11-12-78
Best on Ground – Mighty, Claw, Timmy L, Busta, Wazza, Marshy
Under 18’s
Saturday saw us play UNSW/ES in the second semi at Wagner Oval. The first quarter saw a typical finals start with both sides fighting hard to win early possessions. Marky B and Gary were in the thick of it for us but we went into quarter time down by 21 points.
The second quarter saw us starting to play our game of footy and capitalise on UNSW/ES poor kicking at goal and Sam provided us a spark coming off the bench while Hughsey and Bubsy were playing well in defence to see us peg back to only 15 points down at half time.
Unfortunately the 2nd half proved to be all one way traffic with UNSW/ES really stepping it up and blowing us off the park with their run with only Boof providing us a contest across half forward.
We were eventually beaten by 82 points in a very disappointing display. Next week will see us play the Southern Power in the preliminary final in a game that the boys will be keen to put last weeks effort behind us and knowing how we have battled things out all year I know we will go into this weeks game ready to take it head on.
Mac Uni 5-5-35 lost to UNSW/ES – 16/21/117
Best on Ground – Ralph, Hughesy, Sammy, Boof, Bubsy, Gazza
Last Modified on 01/09/2008 15:38
