Back-to-back losses for the previously undefeated Bathurst Panthers reserves isn’t the ideal way for them to start their preparations for the Group 10 finals series, but senior player Aaron Bateup said the team are still a major threat for the title.
Panthers secured the minor premiership a fortnight ago after winning 11 and drawing one of their first 12 games but a 30-14 loss to Lithgow Workies a week ago and a 22-10 loss to Oberon Tigers on Saturday will see them go into the finals with losing form.
Making the situation even more interesting, Panthers will have this weekend off because they topped the table and will next take the field in the major semi-final.
Bateup believes the team is probably guilty of losing focus, knowing that they effectively didn’t have anything to play for in the last fortnight, and is confident that they can return to their best form, although he admits it’s not an ideal situation.
“We’ve slipped away from doing what was working and we have been beaten pretty easily in the last two games,” he said.
“I know we can turn it around. It’s not ideal losing two games but the pressure of being undefeated was building so it was good to get that out of the way rather than having it be an issue during the finals.”
Panthers trailed 12-6 at half-time after the Tigers went to 8-0 early in the match. They closed the gap to 12-10 after a try to Brian Moss but the Tigers were able to kick on, scoring twice more to seal their win and place in the finals.
Bateup said that he thought the team needed the week off more than to play an extra game.
“I definitely think the week off is a good thing because we have got a few blokes carrying niggling injuries. I know I’ve got one and couple of others do as well, so it will be good to have two weeks before playing again,” he said.
“We will go back and do some hard training in the next fortnight to try and get the basics right.
“We will look at our attitude and make sure we are ready for our
next game.”
Despite the small injury concerns, Bateup said he expected the team to be back to full strength for their major semi-final.
Panthers will still be favourites to win the competition despite their recent hiccups but Bateup said that everyone who is in the finals loom as genuine threats.
“It’s that tight at the moment. There are six teams who are in the race and they are all very good,” he said.
“It’s an interesting situation because you had Cowra who were sixth coming into the round, but they could still finish third so that shows how close it is.
“As for a preference for who we would play, it doesn’t really matter. We have beaten them all during the year and when we are in the right frame of mind we can beat anyone, but if we’re not, then they are all very good teams and we could get beaten.”
OBERON TIGERS 22 (Jacob Howes, Luke Hayden, Kirk Roberts, Dallas Booth, Leighton Roberts tries; Leighton Roberts goal) defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 10 (Brian Moss, Mick Godfrey tries; Jarrod Gaffa goal)
Email a friend