Taking stock of a 40-36 loss to start the season, new CSU coach Mark Fisher knows what needs to improve – the team’s defence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Leaking points cost the team last season and it hurt them one more on Saturday.
Despite the narrow loss, Fisher believes there was plenty of promise shown at Beres Ellwood Oval.
“It was a good effort in patches,” Fisher said.
“A few things came out of it where we need to do some more work on, especially with our defensive pattern.”
Defence around the ruck was one aspect Fisher was particularly looking to hone in at training.
However, Fisher was pleased with was how his back line attacked.
“I was very happy with our back line," he said.
“We beat them out wide.
“Our two wingers did some really good work and the support play was pretty good as well.
“In attack we weren’t too bad at all.”
After a winless season, Reddies had plenty of advantages as they looked to end their drought.
Despite having three Albury players given their marching orders late in the game, CSU couldn’t find a way over the line.
The two teams shared the points in the same fixture last season, and Fisher thought they went away from the plan when the game was there to be won.
We had a couple of lapses there when they didn’t listen to direction.
- CSU coach Mark Fisher
“We had a couple of lapses there when they didn’t listen to direction,” he said.
“We should have went wide and they kept bringing it back in towards the ruck and maul.
“We weren’t running away from the opposition, we were taking it to them instead of trying to use our advantage when we had the overlaps.”
The Reddies came through the clash with the Steamers unscathed, but Fisher is expecting to be without Tim Shephard for the next month after a training mishap.
Things don’t get any easier for the club, who will tackle Wagga City after the Easter general bye.
Last year’s grand finalists we on the end of a 40-point thrashing by Waratahs in the grand final rematch to start the season.
Fisher believes they will be even a bigger challenge after the surprising scoreline.
“They had a pretty average day as well against the ‘Tahs so we will have to see what happens there,” he said.
“I thought Wagga City and the ‘Tahs would be a lot closer myself.
“I was quite shocked when I heard the score.”
