Sutherland Loftus coach Paul Nakhle says the Pirates’ dramatic first victory of the Harrigan Cup season was a reward for the players, volunteers and supporters who maintained their belief through a challenging campaign.
The Pirates broke through with a thrilling 26–24 victory over Dapto at Sutherland Oval in Round 13, snatching the result with a converted try after the full-time siren.
“It was a little bit surreal, to be honest,” Nakhle said.
“It was an amazing feeling and credit to everyone who has been involved with the team all year. We’ve worked really hard since the start of the season.
“When that try was given, there was a lot of relief and joy at the same time. It was something we were all really proud of.”
Last-gasp heroics seal breakthrough win
The victory came in extraordinary circumstances after Dapto fought back from a 20–10 deficit to lead 24–20 with four minutes remaining.
Given one final opportunity from a scrum, centre Tyrell Lafituanai (pictured) kicked through the Canaries’ defensive line for winger Tom Wiseman to score the match-levelling try as the siren sounded.
Lafituanai then stepped forward to attempt the decisive conversion from about 10 metres in from the sideline after regular goal-kicker Blake Wardrobe had been forced from the field with an injury.
“Tyrell is only a part-time kicker, so, to be honest, I didn’t expect him to kick it,” Nakhle admitted.
“But he was confident enough to stand up and he put it straight through the posts.
“It was quite fitting because he was also the one who kicked the ball through on the last play for Tommy Wiseman to score. The try assist came from Tyrell as well.”
Old Boys Day adds to special occasion
Wiseman’s match-winning contribution carried added significance on a day when the Pirates celebrated the club’s former players.
“Tommy is an old boy and it was Old Boys Day, so that made the occasion quite special,” Nakhle said.
“It was a special day for the club and that added some spice to it. We were particularly happy for the supporters, volunteers and players themselves.
“They’ve been working hard all year, so it was great to see their faces at the end of the game.”
An 80-minute performance
Although it was the Pirates’ first win of the season, Nakhle believed the result had been building across several improved performances.
Sutherland Loftus led at halftime in each of its previous two matches before being overrun during the second half, including a competitive 17–10 loss to Collegians in Round 12.
Nakhle said the difference against Dapto was his side’s ability to sustain its performance across the full 80 minutes.
“We’ve been getting better each week,” he said.
“The last few weeks before the win, we had been doing things a lot better. We were completing and competing for longer periods.
“We led at halftime two weeks in a row but slipped away in the second half. Last week, we managed to nail an 80-minute performance.
“At the end of the game, we were obviously very connected. It has given us a lot of confidence, our tails are up and we’ll take that into this week.”
Pirates carry confidence into Wests clash
The Pirates will attempt to build on their breakthrough when they face defending premiers Wests in Round 14.
Nakhle knows his side will again be required to adapt, with the Pirates’ connection to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks pathways regularly resulting in changes to the team.
“This week’s line-up won’t be the same as last week’s, and that’s a given,” he said.
“It is something we manage from week to week. We make sure we connect as much as we can before and during games, and we double down on our effort areas.
“We focus on the things that are within our control and work hard in those areas.”
With the weight of their first victory now lifted, the Pirates will head into their clash with Wests carrying renewed confidence and a determination to finish the season strongly.
Photo credit: Denis Ivaneza