HIGHFIELDS EAGLES

LAST YEAR 11-5, 6th

THE YEAR AHEAD

CONSISTENCY is the money term in this year’s TRL competition, and coach Gus McKellar said it applied to his team.

“It’s important and is our biggest goal to build on our consistency,” McKellar said. “Our best was very good and our worst was very poor.

“It’s more of this year really challenging them to not pull the trigger too early.

“We can travel well, get a bit excited, overplay our hand and then it all seems to turned pear-shaped.

“We need to be willing to go deep into games and halves to win if we need to.”

McKellar isn’t dwelling on the heartbreaking way his side went out in 2017, choosing to focus instead on a highplaced finish.

“Game could’ve gone either way, lost five eighth, our captain, one front rower in last fixture, didn’t happen,” he said.

“We want to try and put ourselves in a better position than not having to play knockout football.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

“Blokes that have been here for the last few years like Nick Bainbrdige. Sean Loxley has played at Cup level, and our lock Sam Bielefeld is fresh after a year off,” McKellar said.

“He has aimed a bit of experience from next level should only help improve us.

VERDICT

Highfields are going to be in the finals mix again.

Coach McKellar said they needed to make it happen, and they had the talent to do so.

They welcome Dale Madden into the fold after playing with the Storm U20s side last year, which is a big addition. Last year the side lost just two games at home, including beating both grand finalists.

If they can repeat that dosage again, look for them to make a finals run.

PREDICTED FINISH 6th