Crunch time!
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
If this game against the Canberra Raiders on Saturday is not our biggest game of the season, it is right up there among them.
We are still part of a logjam of teams vying for a place in the top eight and we've got six games left to prove we belong there, starting with the Raiders at Suncorp.
Now, we won't be dead and buried if we lose. But if we are going to kick-start something meaningful over the back-end of the season, it needs to begin now. We are not at panic stations by any means but from a confidence perspective, this is a game that we need to win.
The frustrating part for us is we know if we play our very best footy, we have the ability to foot it with anyone. We are capable of competing with the heavyweights. But to do that, each and every one of us has to be performing at their very best.
We all have to find that level and maintain it for the full 80 minutes which is something we haven't even been close to consistent with all season.
It was tough watching the loss to the Sydney Roosters last weekend from the sideline. We started so well which hasn't been a strong point of ours and we controlled the game for 30 minutes with our forwards right on top.
I thought Daniel and Jacob Saifiti up front were great for us and really got us on the front foot and the rest of the forward pack just followed their lead. At 8-0, we were probably guilty of not taking a couple of other opportunities we created that could have blown the lead out a bit.
Then we had a couple of lapses in concentration in defence, letting them back in before halftime and we virtually handed it to them in the second half. It was a game we definitely felt we should have won and let slip.
After a tough week for me last week, the head is completely clear and I'm healthy and excited and raring to get back out on the field. I've been doing some fitness stuff with Bradman [Best] and he is ready to explode as well after six or seven weeks out. Having him back on deck as another focal point of our attack out wide is huge for us.
I don't know about Junior [Mitchell Pearce] at this stage and whether he will make it back as well. We're desperately hoping he gets through the week and is right to go. He's been running and it will come down to whether he believes his hamstring is ready and can get through.
The last thing he will want is to put his hand up to play and only last 10 or 15 minutes and put himself out for the rest of the season. He won't want to let us down like that.
It's going to be a really big call either way because we are running out of time and we'd obviously love to have him back to lead our attack.
After a tough season, the Raiders have run into some really good form in recent weeks and their confidence is going to be right up there. It's a real big test for us.
IN THE NEWS:
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark: newcastleherald.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News