The second half of the Group 11 season hasn’t gone to plan for Dubbo Westside but that doesn’t matter to captain-coach Claude Gordon.
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The only thing which matters to him is the fact his side is still in the finals race with two rounds remaining.
After being entrenched in the top five early on, injuries and unavailability has seen the Rabbitohs slip to eighth on the ladder.
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However, they remain just three points off fifth heading into Sunday’s game at Parkes.
“If we can win our next two and Macquarie drop the next two then we’re in,” Gordon said.
“Nyngan is still a chance but they play Forbes and CYMS and it’s a similar deal for Macquarie.
“If we can get a win this weekend it will give the boys a bit of confidence.”
According to Gordon, the biggest thing his side needs to get itself back in the top five is belief.
Especially against the Spacemen.
The men in red and green matched the Parkes side for long periods in their last encounter, only to stumble late on and fall to a 56-42 loss.
Since that game in round six, the Rabbitohs have won just once and a loss again on the weekend would end the side’s season.
“The boys got three wins and they’re the first in a couple of years so it feels like we’ve done a job,” Gordon said, before stating there was still plenty to do.
“But I want to try and make that five. I’m still up for it and it’s up to me to get the other boys up for it too.”
Unexpectedly, given the result last time the two sides met, Gordon said he and fellow captain-coach Matt Naden are focused on defence.
While still not certain of who will feature in his lineup, Gordon wants whoever runs out there to work for the player alongside him.
“It’s not often you score 42 points and get beat but if we defend well we’ll go alright,” the skipper said.
Gordon and Naden have made some tough decisions during the second half of the year and dropped players who have lacked commitment and failed to train.
That has been one of the reasons the side has struggled for numbers and wins in recent weeks but as Gordon said, not for the first time this year, “things will get worse before they get better”.
“Come next year, we’ve figured out who’s committed and who wants to be there and we’ll look to recruit players who are the same,” he said.
League tag is first up at Parkes’ Pioneer Oval at 11am on Sunday, with under 18s, reserve grade and first grade to follow.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
