MOREE Bulls know they aren’t quite a safe finals bet yet but will be looking to refine their game with the finals in mind when they host Gunnedah tomorrow.
The Bulls’ standing in the four is still a week to week proposition but, fresh from a big away win over fellow finals contenders and the side they are jostling with for a home semi – Walcha – they will carry a renewed confidence and intensity into their Red Devils encounter.
“Everyone’s picked their intensity up,” Bulls coach Liam McCormick said.
“It’s all pretty exciting and we’re keen. We know we’ve got a long road ahead but only a short amount of time.”
Last week the overriding goal, aside from winning, was to play well as a team, McCormick said, which they achieved to an extent.
A week further into their campaign, McCormick said the goal was controlling the game and producing an 80-minute performance.
“Everyone has realised that we need to be competitive for 80 minutes,” he said.
“That’s what we’ve been striving for and what we will be striving for against Gunnedah. To play a controlled, structured game for 80 minutes.”
He sees the ability to do that as a characteristic of a good side and, while they did in patches against the Rams, there were still patches where they dropped off.
“The potential is definitely there, it’s just a matter of executing for 80 minutes,” McCormick said.
“Any team can play well in patches but the good teams can control a game.”
It is something the Moree teams of the past have been adept at and McCormick is relishing the prospect of some personnel stability to be able to develop that and some plays.
They have arguably just two of their tough assignments remaining in Pirates and Inverell, but they certainly won’t be taking any of their opposition lightly, especially the Red Devils.
“They’re always difficult,” McCormick said.
The Bulls have found that in the past and in recent seasons have seemed to get drawn into playing Gunnedah’s game rather than their own, a trap McCormick is hoping they can avoid tomorrow.
They could jump clear into third with a win but that will depend on the outcome of tomorrow’s blockbluster clash at Walcha between the Rams and competition leaders Pirates.
Second-placed Inverell is also on the road and heads to Scone, while Barraba hosts Narrabri and Tamworth is at home to Quirindi.