After a run of narrow losses and patchy form, the Thirroul Butchers are hungry for a statement performance.
Rookie second rower Jackson Smith, 19, says the team knows exactly what needs fixing: switch off the lapses and bring the heat for a full 80-minute performance.
“We’ve sort of had a bit of an up-and-down season,” Smith explains.
“We’ve had some super tight matches, it could’ve gone either way. But it’s been a good season, some results haven’t gone our way, but we’ve been playing good footy and I’m sure it’ll click soon enough.”
Last weekend’s narrow defeat to Corrimal was another missed chance, and while the scoreboard showed just a two-point margin, Smith believes the real difference was concentration.
“There were just a couple of sorts of lapses throughout the game,” Smith said.
“There are a few periods that didn’t really help to our standards that we hold as a team. There are a couple of one-percenters; we sort of dropped off.
“One major one was when they went down the short side and made a break to score. That was on the fourth or fifth tackle, we held them in their 20, but it’s just little lapses where we switch off for a bit.”
Taste Of Steel Fuels Fire
Smith is one of several members of the first grade squad, including Aaymon Fitzgibbon, Letham Manago, and Jye Nightingale, who were part of the club’s premiership-winning under-18s last season.
The quartet also all came through the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball under-19s squad earlier this year, an experience, Smith says, has lifted his game at club level.
“It definitely helped having that full pre-season and 10 games under our belt,” he said.
“Physically, that helped us in terms of being ready to go, fitness-wise and actually playing some footy before the season started.”
Costello Chasing Consistency
The Butchers started the season with promise, recording two wins from their first four outings, but have lost their last four on the trot.
“We’ve been close and haven’t been too far off the mark the last few weeks,” Coach Jarrod Costello said.
“Last week was disappointing, sort of going down by two, and the week before that, we were in the game late as well.”
For Costello, the focus now is on building momentum through the second half of the season. Despite injuries, player rotations, and close losses, he sees plenty of promise in his young squad.
“We’re trying to be a bit more consistent,” he said.
“We’re dominant for 15 or 20 minutes, then let the opposition off the hook and give them field position. We’re just trying to build our footing and be consistent across the 80.”
Performance Pathway
Costello, now also a coach at the Steelers Elite Junior Academy, believes the local pathways system is working.
He says Smith, along with his returning Steelers teammates, have brought back that high-level experience to the Butchers.
“Jackson’s been one of our most consistent players,” Costello said.
“He’s a good example of how the development pathway works, the boys go up to rep footy and come back better players.”
He said the experience helps not only the individuals but the team overall.
“It’s a real positive for those guys and their footy as well. They bring that energy and standard back to the club.”
Young Gun: Thirroul five-eighth Aaymon Fitzgibbon (below) breaks a tackle in last year’s Southern Corridor U18’s Grand Final.
Leadership matters
Following the retirement of Thirroul and Illawarra Rugby League legend Jarrod Boyle, a four-time IRL premiership winner last year, Costello says having experienced players on hand is crucial for his youthful squad.
“Guys like Brad Dietz, Crosso (Hayden Crosland), Ammo (Ammon Cairney), Wayne Bremner, they’ve been huge for us,” he said.
“Those older guys literally lead those young guys, which is what you need when you’ve got a team this young.”
Collegians Test Looms
The challenge for Costello now is turning potential into points, and with seven games left in the regular season, he knows time is running out.
“We haven’t been too far off,” he said.
“We just need to make sure we chase the performance that we’re proud of. We know our best footy, consistently across 80 minutes, can match it with any team.”
That starts with Collegians this weekend, but Costello is under no illusions.
“They’re (Collegians) on top of the ladder for a reason,” Costello said.
Smith, too, knows it won’t be easy, but says the belief in the group is still strong.
“We’ve got a couple of matches to bounce back. It’s halfway through the season, and after a few injuries and tight losses, we just want to get back on track. We know what we’re capable of.”
The Butchers face ladder-leaders Collegians this weekend in a clash that could shape the back half of their season.
Match Centre
Words | Angelina Raula