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One to Go for the Perth Pigs
By Fraser Smith on Mon 17th October 16 in NRC
Yesterday’s semi-final win over the Sydney Rays at Pittwater Park secured the Perth Spirit’s second trip to the Buildcorp NRC Grand Final in the last three seasons and the men in black and gold are determined to go one better than 2014 and bring the trophy west.
After letting the Rays jump out to a 16-point lead in the opening 10-minutes the Spirit piled on 42-points to eight for a resounding victory and Head Coach Dwayne Nestor says the team is getting closer to a full 80-minute performance.
“I think we went pretty close to getting that 80-minute performance,” he said. Our set piece was pretty good, the forwards have worked really hard on that over the last few weeks and they have done a great job.”
“We speak a lot about winning the collisions and I think we did that fairly well. We got solid go-forward and good support and quick recycle allowed us to put the Rays under pressure and make the most of those chances.”
The Spirit’s focus now turns to this week’s Grand Final showdown with the NSW Country Eagles in Tamworth and Nestor says the team has had a trip to the ‘big dance’ in their sights for some time now.
“The boys have had a countdown over the last couple weeks. The Vikings game was three-to-go, yesterday was two-to-go and already today there have been a couple of boys saying ‘one-to-go’.”
“It was funny when the final whistle went yesterday, the boys celebrated but it wasn’t over to top.
“I think there is an underlying feeling in the team that we aren’t done until the final whistle goes on Saturday. There is a genuine belief and healthy confidence in the group that one more win is well and truly within reach.”
It is clear to see the ‘Perth Pigs’ are not just playing some excellent rugby but they are having a great time doing it. Nestor says a focus on enjoying their rugby is something he looked to drum into the squad from the outset.
“On the very first day that we got together as a squad the main thing wanted to get across was that we want them to enjoy playing the game. We wanted that mentality the spread across the whole squad, it just goes to show if the boys are enjoying being on the field and playing together then anything is possible.”
“We had a good flight back and this week will really be about freshening the guys up and keeping a smile on their dial, because they’re enjoying what they’re doing at the moment.”
With some experts describing the Western Australian side’s semi-final win as a huge upset the Spirit will head into Saturday’s decider as overwhelming underdogs in the eyes of some but Nestor says the team won’t be taking any notice of external opinions.
“They can call us Mary for all I care as long we are holding up the silverware at the end of the day,” laughed Nestor.
“It’s people’s perceptions and people’s opinions but we don’t mind it at all. NSW Country are an outstanding team, no doubt they have been the best team in the competition so far and that’s why they finished first.”
“If they want to call us underdogs then that’s fine, we will just call ourselves the Perth Pigs and see how we go.”
The Perth Spirit will run out against the NSW Country Eagles at Tamworth Rugby Park at 4:45PM AWST on Saturday, 22 October with the match to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 2 (502).
Buildcorp NRC- Grand Final
Perth Spirit vs NSW Country Eagles
Saturday, 22 October
Tamworth Rugby Park, NSW
Kick-off: 4:45PM AWST
Broadcast: Fox Sports 2 (502)
https://www.westernforce.com.au/arti...-go-perth-pigs