Windsor Wolves coach Garth Brennan has given his team a spray after their second straight loss, this time to the last-placed Canterbury Bulldogs.
The Wolves have now slipped to fifth spot on the NSW Cup ladder after losing to the Bulldogs last weekend 32-30 at Belmore Sports Ground. Canterbury had only won three games all year going into the clash.
Speaking with Extra Time, Brennan said a poor attitude resulted in his side’s worst loss of the year.
“I just don’t think we turned up with the attitude to work hard,” he said.
“I think we looked at Canterbury seeing them at the bottom of the table and thought we’d just turn up and get the two points.
“But the valuable lesson the players learned on the weekend is it doesn’t matter if you’re playing the team that’s coming last or the team that’s coming first – if you don’t turn up with the right attitude you’re going to get beat.”
The Wolves have copped some criticism of late not against their attack but against their defence, which has seen them leak 403 points in 17 games – the second highest of teams in the top eight.
“That’s attitude and it’s a really bad reserve grade attitude to have,” Brennan said.
“They’re just thinking about doing enough and not really caring about the result but more worrying about hoping to get picked in first grade or hoping to get through uninjured.
“Defence is attitude and that probably sums up where we are at the moment, our attitude isn’t where it’s meant to be.”
A silver lining out of the Bulldogs game for Brennan was Fijian winger Eto Nabuli scoring another hat-trick, making his try tally for the year 18. Nathan Smith and Sam Anderson also performed with heart, which has resulted in Anderson getting a well-earned call up to first grade this weekend.
This Saturday at 6pm the Wolves return to Windsor Sports Complex to meet the fourth-placed Newtown Jets. It’s a vital, must-win game for the Wolves.
“If we don’t bring the right attitude to defend this weekend then we’re going to be in for a long night,” Brennan said.
