Match Preview

Who would be a rugby coach? Why suffer the perpetual ups and downs of (mis)fortune and have selections frustrated by injuries and absences and yet maintain a positive outlook? Who has such patience and fortitude?

Brett Fell.

A man of few words Brett doesn’t mince what words he does say and he doesn’t waste time or words on things he cannot change. Brett lets his actions speak for himself and he expects the same from his boys this weekend as the Lions play host to Nedlands.

"The boys trained well tonight, better than they have in a while. They believe they can be competitive and if we can get quick ball from our scrum they want to dig in and have a go this weekend".

"They're going out there with the intention to win. The result might be different but as long as we control what we can control, well, that's all we can do."

"Last week we surrendered a lot of control at critical times. This week we want to re-set the rest of our season and play with some confidence".

This week more change has been forced on Brett with Fergus Lee Warner a late withdrawal through a training mishap this morning being knocked out and rendered unconscious and therefore unavailable. Iron Mike remains out with an injured hand from last week and with Gorgeous George Pisi still recovering from his dislocated shoulder on debut with the Force it falls to our regular starters, bolstered by Masivesi Dakuwaqa, to get the job done against a buoyant Nedlands this weekend.

Some of the boys have earned the right to stay in the 23. Brandon Nieman, Jack Holt and Charlie Pinkerton all played with some real heart last week and get another chance to press for regular selection in the back half of the season off the bench. Swain, Gwyn and Furze are back this week which allows Brett to make some changes not forced by injury.

The game plan in the front half of the season was all gas and go with the likes of Joe Ratu, Dan Powell, Teegan and Joel out wide. With 3 of them gone the second half of the season has seen Brett play a more direct game and he has picked an outside line to do just that with Masivesi coming into 13.

“We need the forwards to fire again this week and give us 80 minutes across the park. If we can man up and get front foot ball and quick ball from the base of the ruck and can get it into our outside channel we can punch through their backline we’re a chance to score”.

“We can’t hide from last week but we should learn from it.We need to get back to the way the scrum fired against Palmyra and go forwards.”

"With Mike Smith out Vaka moves to tighhead and Jordan Shelford comes into the starting team. We've moved Swainy into lock to play alongside Craig Atthis and have a very mobile backrow in Tomasi, Brad and Furze."

If there is anything to take out of last week it is that the players truly appreciate seeing and hearing the Lions faithful cheer for them. With a home game and fine weather forecast the least the Pride can do is gather and lend our voices to support the seniors.

“Absolutely, ” suggests Brett. “Anything that can help lift the boys is great and the more voices cheering them on the better”.

Get on down to support the Lions as they take on Nedlands this week.