Temora coach Jake Wooden says it’s time to end the talk and deliver on promises when they host The Rock-Yerong Creek on Saturday with third spot on the line.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Kangaroos are coming off a 66-point thrashing at North Wagga last week, a result which Wooden says wasn’t a complete surprise given their lead-up form.
“It was very disappointing, everything we stand for and play for we just didn’t do,” Wooden said.
“But that’s how we’ve been playing the last couple of weeks, against the Jets and CSU, but we come up against better opposition and we got beat at our own game. How North Wagga play, that’s how we play as well, so it was pretty frustrating.”
The Kangaroos have a bye next weekend and then just three games before finals.
So, after a season in which their best has them looking like flag favourites and their worst is well off the pace, Wooden says they need to iron out the kinks.
“The last couple of weeks we’ve had a lot of discussion on where we’re at, and it’s good discussion, it’s positive talk,” Wooden said. “But it’s time to do it now. There’s only so much talking we can do.
“It’s going to be a tough game, The Rock are coming over trying to get third spot and we want to stay in the top three to get that second chance so it’s time to do it this week.”
The Pies are coming off an upset loss to East Wagga-Kooringal at Gumly, where the Hawks were missing a number of leaders.
Temora are also down on troops this week with Wooden (quad) joining midfielder Sam Jensen (hamstring) on the injured list.
“Running’s alright and there’s no tear,” Wooden said. “I just can’t kick on it so I’ve been busy with physios the last few days. I should be right after the bye.”
Younger brother Abe Wooden, and in-form pair Rob Grant and Sam Jackson are all unavailable but experience comes in, in the shape of Robbie Drummond, Chris Stacey and Dan Reid.
When the teams last met, Temora put the game away early in the final quarter, after a TRYC revival. Wooden doesn’t want it left late this week.
“We really want to make a statement early and blow them away,” he said. “I think if we can start well and really put it to them I think it’ll just flow from there.”
Matt Harpley kicked six goals at Victoria Park and has kicked 40 this season, but the whole team landed only six last week, and seven a week earlier against the Jets.
“We’ve worked a lot on our forward structure and our forward pressure,” Wooden said. “In the last quarter (at North Wagga) we had 12 inside-50s for only one shot on goal, so it’s getting in there…
“But we need crumbers, we need pressure, we need to make sure we’re not flying against each other. Just little things but we’ve got to get them right.”