Marrar coach Shane Lenon isn’t shying away from the importance of Saturday’s grand final for his club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In his first year back in the league, Lenon has a shot at his eighth senior premiership as a coach, having won four Farrer flags and three Riverina League titles.
But it’s been 21 years since the Bombers went back-to-back under Tony Hughes in 1995-96.
“Oh, it'd be huge. To win a premiership, it's huge for any club,” Lenon said.
“But they've been starved of success – let's be honest – they don't have a lot of silverware in the cabinet.
“The challenge for us on Saturday is to stand up and try and be the best side on the day. It’s a great club with a great culture but yeah, part of being successful is winning silverware so that's the challenge in front of us.”
Lenon says his players have done all he’s asked of them since he arrived at the club and he wants them to enjoy the atmosphere – even the unsolicited advice.
“Everyone's got an opinion. But it's exciting and they're all pumped,” he said. “You get out to training tonight and you wouldn't think there'd be that many people live in Marrar... they'll be hanging off the rafters!”
Marrar won the minor premiership but Temora have lost only once in three months.
They're a great club with a great culture but yeah, part of being successful is winning silverware so that's the challenge in front of us.
- Shane Lenon
“I think Temora's second half of the year, they're probably the form side,” Lenon said.
“In saying that, I think we've improved since the first half of the year as well.”
The Roos’ 10 wins from their last 11 games includes a semi-final victory over Marrar a fortnight ago, when the Bombers couldn’t find a way to halt the momentum out of the middle.
“If a side kicks two goals and gets a run on, you’ve got to stop it,” Lenon said.
“It’s one of our team rules and we weren’t able to do that in a final. I’d be confident that we learnt from that and if it did happen again, you’d hope that our midfield would be able to stop it.
“It can be easier said than done. They’ve got a good ruckman and a good midfield so it’s up to us to try and nullify that.”
The veteran coach comes up against one of his old Lockhart players in Jake Wooden, who he says has done a fantastic job at Temora and expects will have the Kangaroos ready for the big occasion.
Lenon won’t leave anything behind in trying to get the best out of his players. He isn’t practicing his motivational speeches, but will be ready to deliver if the occasion calls for it.
“Just what comes naturally at the time, I don't think too much about that sort of stuff,” he said.
“But I'm the same as the players and everyone that's involved. It's exciting. You get pumped. It's a grand final.
“If you weren't pumped, you wouldn't be involved. Go and play marbles or something like that.”