For Geurie Goats coach, Paul Hausia, he admits his side has a lot to prove in this year's Oilplus Cup after winning the grand final in 2018.
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The Goats have been doing tremendusouly this season, which Hausia credited to his side's defence, and have only lost once which was to the Molong Magpies in round seven, when Geurie went down 17-36.
The Goats' last match was a 22-all draw with the Wellington Redbacks in round nine. Redbacks coach Greg Brien described that match as a "good, hard game of bush footy", and Hausia agreed with Brien's analysis.
Geurie player Kyle Forgione broke his ankle after trying to make a tackle against Wellington prop Matty Watson.
"Wellington came out firing in that first half and we did the same in the second half. It was tit-for-tat," Hausia said.
The Goats were supposed to play in round 10, but Canowindra forfeited. Hausia said it's disappointing when the smaller clubs have to do that, but understood it was out of their control.
"We got the news late Friday night that unfortunately they couldn't put a team together, it looks good (ladder-wise) but having too much time off the paddock isn't good," he said.
This weekend is round 11 and the Goats take on Coolah. Hausia said it was going to be a massive effort for the Goats this weekend at Coolah's home ground because they are always strong on their own turf.
In order to win against Coolah, Hausia said they will need to maintain discipline in their defence, which is something they decided to make a priority three years ago.
"Were going to be in for a very physical game which is going to be good," he said.
Hausia said they were always going to be minor errors here and there, but they were working on them and making sure they kept working on their defence, especially in the lead-up to the finals.
"We know we've got to do that 1 per cent better, minimising those mistakes, respecting the ball," he said. "I'm proud of the guys but I know there's still a lot of work we need to do before the finals start."
Although the team has had a handful of players move-on due to family commitments, Hausia said Geurie has been able to move-on from a team that people didn't take seriously to now being a side that other clubs want to knock over.
"The easiest part is now done, we won the grandfinal (in 2018) it's going back out there this year and proving that we're not a one hit wonder," he said.
"It's a credit to the other clubs, they've come out with all guns blazing."
While Hausia doesn't look too far ahead, he certainly believes he's got the team who can make it into the finals.
Going in to the finals Hausia said Molong and Coolah were going to be two big competitors, but it's the Redbacks who would be their main challenge.
It was the Wellington side who Geurie defeated in the 2018 grand final.
"We've just got to dot the i's and cross the t's. Focus week by week and we'll take the finals by finals," Hausia said.
"Finals footy is completely different, they're expecting mistakes and are going to try and force mistakes.
"Whatever happened throughout the season doesn't matter (in finals footy). But we've still got two more games to worry about that."
Hausia said he's certainly got a team that can win a grand final and back it up.
"Just knowing the likes of Wellington, Coolah and Molong are going to bite at our ankles and make us work hard for it is good. I'm loving the challenge," he said.
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
