Double try-scorer Tyler Fleming jumps out of dummy half as Jake Cocking looks on. 020213GRA16
WESTS Greater Northern Academy U18s coach Chris Brennan said his side has some work to do after its loss to the Parramatta Eels on Saturday.
Both academy sides face the Hunter Academy next Saturday and while the GNA U17s were impressive winners over the Eels U16s, the older GNA squad needs to improve.
At halftime the Eels were only up 10-6 but their size and strength began to wear the local boys down in the second half and the score blew out to 46-10.
“I was reasonably happy at halftime,” Brennan said.
“But in the second half we played too much bush footy and lacked intensity, and that’s why they put so many points on.
“We dropped off tackles.”
Tyler Fleming did his best to keep the GNA in the game.
The Gunnedah local and Farrer hooker scored both of his side’s tries.
Among the other players who performed well were Tingha’s Jayden Connors and Farrer prop Josh Pursche, but overall the side was out muscled.
“It was still very encouraging for the rest of our games,” Brennan said.
“They are a quality outfit.
“They’re down to their top 25 and they were all playing for starting sports and bench spots and trying to impress.
“I was happy with the effort and we played good footy in patches, but we lacked the intensity and fitness that they had.”
Without another training run or an opportunity to watch a video from the Eels games it is a big ask for the GNA boys to back up against Hunter at Kurri Kurri on Saturday.
The under 17s will look for back-to back wins after a 10-4 upset of the Eels on Saturday, while the under 18s will try to turn their fortunes around.