INVERELL Saints coach Nick Baird believes that the side can bounce back and get another crack at the Nomads by beating the Tamworth Kangaroos at Varley Oval tomorrow in the preliminary final after “learning a hard lesson” in the major semi-final last week.
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No two clubs in the TAFL have a history so intertwined as these two, making for a passionate do or die affair tomorrow afternoon at Varley Oval.
The Saints joined the competition in 2005 and won their first title ever over the Roos in 2007.
The following year the Roos reversed their fate and beat the Saints in the big one.
In 2010, Inverell again beat the Roos in the major to win their second and last flag.
The next year the Roos beat the Saints to win 2011 before the Saints turned around and beat the Roos in the 2012 grand final.
Since then, the Nomads have dominated, going back to back against the Saints both times.
They lie in wait for the winner at Bellevue Oval after exacting their revenge for their only loss this year with a 107-39 point victory over Saints last week.
For the past seven years, the Saints have featured in the big one and coach Nick Baird doesn’t want to buck the trend.
The mind games started early in the week when it was discovered that the Inverell Hawks needed Varley Oval for a Group 19 final on Saturday.
The Saints offered to play after the Hawks at night under lights.
The Roos offered to move the game to a neutral ground in Armidale.
It was eventually agreed to play tomorrow at 2pm after 72 hours of negotiation.
“It wasn’t an ideal preparation,” Baird said.
The coach hopes that the Roos go to Inverell with a bit of confidence after easily winning their last encounter in Tamworth.
“We haven’t met each other this year, with both sides at full strength,” Baird said.
The coach believes the game will be decided in the midfield.
“We learnt a hard lesson last week after committing too far forward.
“We need to hold back and play our own game.”
The Saints will look to captain and ruck rover Justin Pay to get the ball to the forwards.
Luke Selig has also shone for the Saints this year and, along with Pay, are capable of lifting the Saints’ midfield to a victory.
“The Roos are similar to the Nomads with speed out wide and a good middle,” Baird said.
“We have to match them out wide.”
The Roos are in good nick after dispatching Narrabri 177-34 last week, with 11 players kicking goals.
