Tumut captain Tim Graham believes the team has unfinished business with finals football.
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The Bulls made a return to top flight Southern Inland finals for the first time since 2009 last season and it didn’t go according to plan.
After being knocked out after consecutive losses in the finals series last year, the Bulls haven’t won a first division final since being knocked out in preliminary final by Waratahs seven years ago.
Tumut have the chance to change their poor record when they tackle Leeton in the qualifying final at Exies Oval on Saturday.
This time around, Graham believes the team is better situated to make an impact this finals series.
“Last year was very disappointing but I think we are playing better footy than we were last year,” Graham said.
“Everyone is excited by the prospect of hopefully going through to the end of the finals next year.”
Last year was very disappointing but I think we are playing better footy than we were last year.
- Tumut captain Tim Graham
Graham was coach of the team last season before stepping down and Daniel Dowson took over.
Happy to take a lesser role this season, Graham is hopeful the team has learned from their failures in 2015.
“We didn’t adjust to the final football last year and are out to make amends this year,” he said.
“It is a different level of intensity and it more comes down to the individual.
“The coaching staff and everyone have done their bit by now and now it is about how each individual approaches the increased level of intensity and how they come up to it.”
The qualifying final in Griffith is the second time Tumut will face Leeton in as many weeks.
Coming away with a 23-17 win in Leeton last Saturday, Graham doesn’t believe too much needs to change to ensure they tackle Waratahs for a place in the grand final next week.
“Up against Leeton again we have won twice so that obviously gives the boys a fair bit of confidence,” Graham said. “But I am sure they will be pretty fired up.
“I don’t think we don’t need to change a lot.
“Our main focus has been on tidying up a few finer details.
“The smaller aspects of the game are important in finals, ball retention and simple one-on-one tackles.
“You need to make those things work.”