Despite entering the mid-season break second bottom on the ladder, Yass Magpies Coach Cameron Hardy is confident his side can make their way up the ladder in the latter part of the year.
“No worries at all, I’ve got no doubt.”
“We were 3rd the other week, and it’s all pretty close actually. We’re one win out of the top four and we’re nearly at the bottom,” he said.
Aside from their big win against the Woden Valley Rams a few weeks back, Cam says his side is yet to really put in a complete performance.
“We had one great effort against the Rams where what we trained for we did, and it came off really well and that’s something we can do.”
“To be fair and to be honest, when the team starts listening and shows a bit of discipline, we’re easily a top four team.”
“They sometimes just don’t listen and take the wrong options, unforced errors have killed us all year,” he said.
The Magpies have scoring options all over the field, an element to their game that provides him with great comfort, no matter how great the obstacle on the day may appear.
“Everytime we go in and we’re behind, whether it be 16 points or 12 points, there’s not a doubt in my mind, I don’t even think about it, we are always in the game.”
“We’re always a try away from gaining momentum and we can score from wherever we want.”
Cam believes unforced errors are the difference for his side at the moment and envisions the Magpies being competitive against anyone if they can remove this from their game.
“I don’t think we’re complacent against any team, but certain players will catch it and then make a break and someone comes from behind and steals it one on one.”
“Silly unforced errors like that, that pull us out of the game every week and we’re really beating ourselves.”
“Once we stop the unforced errors it’s probably only the Blues (Queanbeyan) that are in front of us I reckon,” he said.
As for the key contributors so far this season, the coach listed Ben Davis, Bayley Maher, the now injured Jordan Mecham-Crane and Captain Shaun Davis.
Despite their current record, Cam thinks the state of the wider club is something to be celebrated and expects it won’t be long before the fortunes of his first-grade team changes.
“It’s a great squad, a lot of youth blended with a bit of age and experience.
“Reserve grade are on top and have only lost the one game. The girls are undefeated and on top. The under 19’s are going along well.”
“The club’s in a really good shape,” he said.
The men’s sides will take on the 5th placed Queanbeyan Kangaroos on Saturday, whilst the women’s side will take on the last-placed Boomanulla Raiders.
Max O’Driscoll
