FRUSTRATED Hunter Wildfires coach Scott Coleman is tired of excuses and warned that his under performing side needs "less chiefs and more Indians".
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The Wildfires went down 15-9 to West Harbour at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday to make it three losses to open the campaign.
The visitors led 9-8 deep in the second half and were then camped on the West Harbour tryline for the final five minutes.
They kept banging on the door, but were turned away time and time again.
The ball was shifted two passes wide to Abele Atunasia, but the winger slipped, injurying his ankle, and was trapped in possession.
"His foot got stuck in the grass and he injured his ankle," Coleman said. "X-rays cleared him of a fracture but he will be in a CAM boot for two or three weeks.
"It was a frustrating day to say the least. We had our chances but blew it.
"We are making poor decisions at crunch moments. Sometimes you only get thee or four opportunities a game and if you don't capitalise on them, it hurts you.
"We had a six on two and tried to do a cross field kick. There were a couple of other times we played out the back and didn't have the right lines coming off it."
Coleman started almost from scratch this season after recruiting 22 players. It was always going to take time to form combinations but that period has now elapsed.
"We have been talking about time in the saddle and combinations but we can't use that excuse any more," he said. "We are all grown men and we have to take ownership of our own role and perform it. Less chiefs, more indians."
Asked if he would be making mass changes, Coleman said: "It is definitely getting close to that point. We are home the next two weeks against Randwick and Penrith and need some wins."
The Wildfires lost in-form prop Blair Rush to a torn calf at training on Thursday night. They already faced a tough task against a heavyweight West Harbour scrum.
"Our set piece was ordinary at times," Coleman said. "They were really big and powerful at the scrum. Our lineout was disjointed and sluggish."
West Harbour took the lead in the eighth minute when wing Toti Mafi picked up a dubious pass near his ankle and crashed over. The sides then traded penalties with the home side going to the break up 8-6.
Nate De Thiery converted his third penalty to put the Wildfires ahead 9-8 in the 49th minute.
They held strong until the 69th when the Pirates replacement half found a hole.
It wasn't all gloom.
"OJ Noa was amazing," Coleman said. "Kirk Tufuga just gets through a mountain of work and Nate De Thiery defended well and shut down a lot at 13."
The Hunter Wildfires women also conceded late in their 12-all draw with Warirngah.
Maryann Utai and Anika Butler crossed for tries as the Wildfires went to the break ahead 12-0.
But they paid the price in the second half for giving away too many penalties and the Rats stormed home.
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
