NARRABRI knows they’ve got to improve but know they’ve got the arsenal to win their rematch with Pirates at Dangar Park today.
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The two met only two weeks ago, with the Blue Boars storming home to snatch the points after the bell.
Today promises to be just as tight a struggle and Blue Boars coach Nick Lennon is fully prepared to have to weather an early storm.
He said after the last game they probably only played 50 minutes out of the 80 and was particularly critical of some of their defence.
They’ve really upped the ante on defence this week, only too well aware of the threat Pirates pose.
“When we are defending on our line we can do that well,” Lennon said.
Pirates had a few passages where they were punching at the Blue Boars line for several phases but they repelled them.
But in open play they were lacking that urgency off the line and were caught going too high on their forward runners, especially.
“They’ll really punish us if we let them do that again,” Lennon said.
“If we don’t chop them down early they’ll get a roll on.”
He identified that they also need to get to the breakdown first on their own ball, and protect it, and be a bit better with their option selection in attack.
“We need to react to what the defence is doing a bit more,” he said.
For instance, Pirates were dropping a jumper out of the lineout to give them an extra defender in the line, but they didn’t counter that.
Pirates head out confident they’ve got the team and ability to upset the unbeaten competition leaders, and clear on what they need to do.
That starts with discipline. It was their downfall two weeks ago.
“Our discipline has to be right on,” coach Mat Kelly said.
As much as they have to toe the line, they also have to react and adjust better to the way the game is being adjudicated.
They also have to improve defensively.
“Their counter-attack was really good,” Kelly said.
Thwarting that comes back mainly to communication and keeping their line and structure.
Kelly has changed things up a little bit, naming Andrew Moodie at fullback.
“We’re trying to find the team balance and give Moodie some freedom,” he said.
“I think at 13 he is a bit restricted.”
He can chime in when he chooses and may also work as a counter to the Blue Boars kicking game.
“Last time we played they really looked to get in behind us,” he said.
“Moodie’s returning ability is always good.”
The other Tier 1 game sees Moree returning to Walcha where they only last week clawed their way back from 26-5 down early in the second half to beat the Rams 43-26.