A SLUGGISH first half ended up costing the Steamers dearly last weekend, a mistake coach Mick Raynes doesn’t want repeated.
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The reigning premiers host Wagga Ag College at Murrayfield on Saturday, and Raynes wants to see a continuation of the positive signs shown by the side against Leeton last week.
The Steamers trailed 29-0 at half time last week, before a James Olds-inspired comeback brought them back into the game.
The Phantoms were held scoreless in the second half but the Steamers were only able to muster 19-points to fall short by just 10.
The last time the two sides met was a strictly one-sided affair, with the Steamers romping home in a 101-0 win.
It's likely to be a different story this time around though, with the Steamers yet to record a win and the Aggies gelling well under young captain Ben Macleay.
“This is a big game for them, there's no doubt about it,” Raynes said.
“Any team that can put more than 90 points on the board like they did against Griffith is going to be a very well-organised unit.
“They've stuck to their structure.
“In those games you can get 50 points on the board at the half and then become very sloppy – they didn't let that happen.”
Injuries and departures have had a massive impact on the Steamers in the opening rounds of the season, but two familiar faces will be welcomed back into the fold for the Murrayfield clash.
Hindering the Steamers will be the absence of Richard Manion and Blake le Cornu, with the Steamers playing it safe with le Cornu’s troublesome hamstring.
Combined with the improving Ash Daniels and consistent James Olds, Raynes said the ingredients were there for a breakthrough win.
“There's no doubt that our second half against Leeton was an improvement,” he said.
“But we've got to be better for the full 80 minutes.
“I'm not looking for patchy improvements from the boys, they have to strong it together for the full game.
“Guys like James Olds have been pretty vocal, he doesn't like losing.
“New players like Ash Daniels have been improving, and I've put the acid on guys like Arran Macdougall to deliver something a little bit different for us.”
Kickoff at Murrayfield will be at 3:15 on Saturday.
Other SIRU matches this weekend will have Griffith tackling City, the Waratahs facing off against Tumut and the CSU Reds hosting Leeton.
