A CONTROVERSIAL one-point loss to Waratahs on Saturday has urged CSU coach Mick Wakeling to begin planning revenge for next Southern Inland Rugby Union season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Missing a fourth shot at trumping Albury in the blockbuster decider on Saturday, Wakeling was left bitterly disappointed after falling short of Tahs 30-29 in the preliminary final at Conolly Rugby Complex.
Questioning decisions made by referee Sam Donelan, Wakeling said he felt Reddies deserved a place in the grand final.
“I’m totally disappointed, I believe we were the better team,” told The Daily Advertiser after the game on Saturday.
“Our boys played out of their skins, our back line made inroads all the time, but at the end of the day we lost by a point.
“Our forward pack really stood up, Patty (Hunter), Sterlo (Ross) and Godfrey (Condon) were unreal.
“They deserve to be there (in the grand final).”
As fate would have it, Reddies copped the one-point loss after a season of stealing tight victories from the clutches of defeat.
Leading 29-25 with less than five minutes on the clock, Reddies succumbed to several penalties in their own territory when Tahs prop Harry Cook barged over the line to score and seal the win.
The lead see-sawed throughout the contest, with Tahs finally claiming the exciting victory to set up Saturday’s grand final opposite SIRU juggernauts Steamers.
Despite the loss, Wakeling could not disguise his pride for the team that trumped all odds and expectations to reach Saturday’s preliminary final.
“This season has just been awesome,” he said.
“I cannot ask, as a coach, for any more than what these guys delivered.
“From where everyone thought we would be to where we are today ... that is a huge turn around.
“What we tried to do was create an atmosphere where we engaged people and I believe we achieved that, people want to be a part of what we’re doing.
“To me, that’s the success of the season.”
Wakeling said the Reddies coaching position hasn’t been decided for next season, but he believes the one-point loss will spur the team on to bigger and better things after falling just short.
“I don’t know the answer, it’s way too early for me to speculate on (the coaching position),” he said.
“I know the majority of the team is sticking around.
“I think after this year they’ll be wanting to hang around and have another crack at it.
“All those things will make it very good for us next year and all we can do is look forward to it.”
