Our players and coaches have trained and made sacrifices since last November to try to again qualify for finals footy and to go a few steps further.

Anyone watching From The Stands last Friday night could write a list of the reasons why they’ve been wasting their time. They could write about what went wrong, and what needs to be addressed, but how does that help us in the short term?

No answer to Souths

Our squad and playing style is what it is, and that cannot be altered dramatically in the next few weeks, so our choice as fans is a simple one.

The undeniable fact is this. Three weeks from now, eight teams will be finished for the year. Eight sets of fans will start dreaming that the next season will be better.

I don’t want to be one of those fans. I love the finals and I want us to be there. I cannot do a thing about what actually happens on the field but I can turn up and support our team.

On Saturday, we’ll play a fierce rival and I’m sure they would take as much satisfaction in severely denting our finals hopes as we did when we ended Manly’s chances.

It is a really interesting match up. The Bulldogs have a dummy half that often gets out and targets lazy markers, especially after big forwards have cut back behind the ruck to get a quick play the ball.

They have a dominant half who has a good running and kicking game that creates tries, and a speedy winger who often scores tries in multiples.

If this sounds familiar it is because the Bulldogs have all the qualities that we struggled so badly with against the Rabbits, and these are qualities that we have struggled to handle all year.

Granted, the Bulldogs are not the Rabbits and they don’t have Latrell, but they will attack us in exactly the same way, just as they did earlier in the season when we lost so badly.

Will our boys show up?

Just how badly do they want to play finals footy and go deep into the finals series?

Clint Gutherson

From the stands I cannot answer that question, only the players can. But there is one thing I can state as fact; I want our boys to play well, I want them to earn the opportunity to write a different finals picture and for that to happen this week is a must win.

I will be in the stands cheering them on and leaving no doubt that this team has my support and respect. If they turn up and play to their potential they will be victorious. That means the other players matching the efforts of Gutho and Lane, two blokes who did turn up against Souths.

As a fan I know that this team should be a top eight team, I only hope our players do their job and play their role in turning “should” into a reality.

Finally, last week the sport I love was rocked by the sudden and tragic death of a man who had achieved so much in the game. Going by the emotional responses of past players, officials and teammates, Paul Green was obviously loved and respected. Yet, he wrestled with demons that very few on the surface could see.

Talk is now focussing on a potential NRL Mental Health Round. Hopefully, we can all learn to appreciate the importance of mental health.

Shelley

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