Guerra driven by pride
ROOSTERS forward Aidan Guerra admits he is being driven by the embarrassment of his 2016 season, yet stresses: “You can’t just wake up one day saying you’ll be better.”
A Queensland Origin mainstay for the past three campaigns, the Cairns-born backrower is determined to revive the form that has seen him win a premiership, Australian Test jersey and sing the Maroons team song more times than any New South Welshman would care to know.
According to Fox Sports Statistics, the 29-year-old is already defending better than ever before in his career, although his key attacking statistics – like run metres, line breaks and tackle busts – are still down on previous years.
“But I think people understand that, no matter your occupation, at some point you’re going to have a bad year,’’ Guerra said. “So now the pressure is on me to make it’s just that – one bad year.
“I’m relishing that opportunity. It’s helped me refocus.
“I mean, it isn’t like I can just put my finger on what needs to change because it’s a long process. You can’t just wake up and say you’re going to be better.
“For me it started in November and it’s not going to end until, hopefully, October. It’s something I have to keep working on every week.”
Asked about his key motivator for 2017, Guerra continued: “Last year didn’t go to plan for me or the club.
“And that heartache we felt right through 26 rounds, we’ve all taken our own lessons from that and come in with something to prove this year. Cody Walker 1 Michael Gordon Alex Johnston 2 Daniel Tupou Siosifa Talakai 3 latrell Mitchell Robert Jennings 4 Joseph Manu Bryson Goodwin 5 S.Kenny-Dowall John Sutton 6 Luke Keary Adam Reynolds 7 Mitchell Pearce Thomas Burgess 8 J.Waerea-H’aves Robbie Farah 9 Connor Watson Jason Clark 10 Dylan Napa Angus Crichton 11 Boyd Cordner (c) Kyle Turner 12 M.Aubusson Sam Burgess (c) 13 Aidan Guerra INTERCHANGE Damien Cook 14 Isaac Liu A. Cherrington 15 Zane Tetevano Robbie Rachow 16 Ryan Matterson Zane Musgrove 17 Paul Carter Tyrell Fuimaono 18 Chris Smith S. Moceidreke 19 Mitchell Cornish
“Our pride took a battering and that’s driving us. I know it’s certainly driving me now and will continue to do so throughout the year.
“As players, we’ve spoken about how if we stick together, if we work hard together, we can get that pride back.”
Guerra welcomed his first child, daughter Olive Belle, into the world last March and says that, coupled with the support of partner Belinda and Roosters teammates helped him through the tough times.
“Not too much went to plan,’’ he said of a year which included being dropped. “But what kept me moving forward was the support at home.”
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