COACH Scott Coleman believes the Hunter Wildfires are missing one major trait that the top teams in the Shute Shield possess - patience.
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The Wildfires paid the price for pushed passes and a lack of composure in a 39-21 loss to Southern Districts at Forshaw Park on Saturday.
The visitors held their own against the heavyweight Rebels pack and created enough opportunities to win the match.
"We are still not patient with the ball," Coleman said. "In the first half we had seven line breaks and six entries into the opposition 22m and didn't score. We pushed the pass and knocked on. We are just not being patient.
"Crucial mistakes allowed them into our 22m. The top four teams are clinical and punish you."
Southern Districts led 17-0 at half-time after close-range tries to halfback Tyzac Jordan and Andrew Tuala and a penalty to Christian Kagiassis.
Wildfires lock Joe Tamani scored a brilliant individual effort early in the second half, hitting a hole near halfway, stepping off his left foot and then outracing the cover to the try-line to cut the gap to 17-7.
But that was as close as the visitors got. The Rebels scored the next two tries to blow the gap out to 31-7.
Hamish McKie scored a 95-metre intercept try and Tamani helped set up Tom Watson as the Wildfires kept pushing hard.
"In the second half we got three line breaks and scored. But there were another three line breaks we could have scored," Coleman said. "The fact we could orchestrate some line breaks was awesome. We just need that bit of composure.
"Southern Districts are a good side. They have lost by less than a try points to four of the top five teams - Easts (17-15), Warringah (31-25), and Gordon (26-23). Again we competed against them. The scrum was good. As stupid as it sounds, our chop tackles were a lot better and our line speed was good."
"Tamani was awesome. He provided an X-factor. OJ Noa was consistent. Dobbo was awesome in the scrums. Hamish McKie had a good game."
Next for the Wildfires is a visit by Easts on Sunday.
"We need to start winning games."