susan ridgepipe link said:
must have been a solid performance.pride are second favourites behind logan for title.
Yes, it must have been considering how little preparation they had before the game.
The following article was posted in the Sunshine Coast Daily yesterday before the game which outlines just how little preparation time they had:
Eagles aim to repeat success
Steve Zemek | 13th March 2010
SUNSHINE Coast Sea Eagles coach Brandon Costin likens 2009 to a hole in one – he was aiming for the flag, it was just a bit of a surprise when the ball rolled in the hole.
The reigning Queensland Cup premiers will kick off their premiership defence in Cairns tonight against last year’s runners-up, the Northern Pride.
Costin last year appeared unwavering in his belief that his side could take the title in their maiden year.
An unabashed advocate of their feeder relationship with Manly, he boldly declared his charges title contenders.
However, looking back, he now admits even he was taken aback when they became the first side in the 101-year history of Queensland state-wide rugby league competition to become premiers in their debut season.
“It’s like when you get a hole in one,†he said.
“Well, I was actually aiming for the hole. It’s a bit like, ‘oh gee, that was a bit of a shock’. We were aiming for it – it just really went to clockwork.
“We didn’t have any hiccups and that was my big surprise.â€Â
While the Sea Eagles ended last year in a state of euphoria, their start to the season gave them little to celebrate.
After getting off to a sluggish start they roared into contention with five wins in a row mid-season.
Despite last year’s early-season slump, Costin said he was attempting to replicate last year’s preparation to a tee.
“It might sound weird, but I’m actually trying to replicate what we did last year,†he said.
“It doesn’t mean we have to do anything different. We were quite relaxed in our approach, we tried to build up into a season.
“Nothing’s changed because the player’s we’re getting, we don’t know them, we don’t have an affinity with them, we’re not close to them, the same sort of process needs to take place.
“I’m really trying to replicate last year and we’re hoping we’re not going to have as slow a start, but I’m not really saying we’re going to be coming out of the blocks, because we do have so many new players.â€Â
One of Costin’s toughest challenges this year will once again be getting his Sunshine Coast-based players to gel with the side’s rotating contingent of Sydney ring-ins.
The side’s backrow against Cairns will consist of Manly duo Jamie Buhrer and Darcy Lassick.
Both players have had one training run with the Sunshine Coast and that was three weeks ago ahead of their trial against Ipswich.
The side’s entire Manly-based contingent will have a less-than-ideal preparation when they fly into Brisbane this morning before flying to Cairns for a 7pm kick-off.
However, Costin said the side wouldn’t be using that as an excuse.
“I’m not one to make excuses,†Costin said.
“We haven’t had the best preparation. But who cares, we jumped into it last year.
“We’ll just go out there and do our best, really.â€Â
Meanwhile, Pride coach David Maiden has said tonight’s match would be a battle of the backlines after naming a new-look team for the grand final rematch.
“We’re pretty happy and confident the guys we’ve got can do the job,†Maiden told a Cairns newspaper this week.
GAME DAY
NORTHERN PRIDE v SUNSHINE COAST: Barlow Park, Cairns, today, 7pm.
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/03/13/eagles-keen-to-repeat-last-seasons-success/
