HARBOURING “no regrets” or resentment, Daniel Fitzhenry is perfectly at ease with trying to bring down the Wagga club he took to their breakthrough grand final success.
Four years after guiding Southcity to the Group Nine title in 2011, Fitzhenry will line-up for Temora against the Bulls at Nixon Park on Sunday.
Fitzhenry coached Southcity for four seasons, winning one grand final and losing two others as the Bulls were established as a fabulous football force.
Six months on from splitting from Southcity, the 35-year-old playmaker admits he is feeling no pressure or anxiety before Sunday’s confrontation.
“It’s just another game really,” Fitzhenry said.
“We’re (Temora) not playing great and we need to win whoever we’re playing.”
Now entrenched as Temora’s key playmaker, Fitzhenry said the time had been right for him to part ways with the Bulls.
“I have no regrets with my decision,” he said.
“Temora is a great little club and has a great committee.”
Heading into Sunday’s intriguing showdown, Fitzhenry believes his history with Southcity will count for little.
“I said (in November) that they (Southcity) would push to win the comp this year,” he said.
“They’re a good side and I’m sure Nick (Skinner) has put his own spin on things.
“I’m sure they don’t miss me.”
Fitzhenry has not watched the Bulls play this season, but knows he will be in for a battle against former protégé Nathan Rose.
“From my side of things he’s (Rose) been one of the players of the comp for the past two years,” he said.
“He had a massive year last year. He’s come along in leaps and bounds.”
Rose and Fitzhenry were a brilliant halves combination for Southcity, but they will be intense rivals on Sunday.
Fitzhenry has not watched the Bulls play this year and remains focussed on the form of the Dragons.
“We need to turn things around,” he said.
“We’ve got win two, three or four games in a row.
“One win here and there won’t do any good.”
Temora is coming off a 17-16 loss to Kangaroos last Saturday, which Fitzhenry knows could have been a better result for the Dragons.
“We didn’t play great but there were glimpses,” he said.
“Silly mistakes cost us and we need to put in an 80 minute effort.
“We haven’t done that yet.”
