Dragons ready to make their mark
FIVE years at the helm of Townsville rugby union is coming to an end for Teachers West.
That is the opinion of Western Suburbs co-captain Taylor Bail, who has boldly declared that “the dynasty is over”.
Bail’s resurgent Dragons will clash with Brothers this weekend in the sequel to their enthralling 20-all encounter last month.
Both sides have pushed Teachers this year, with Western Suburbs even leading 17-0 early in their clash last week.
Brothers were neck and neck with the defending champions for much of their contest too, going down 26-22 after also leading at key moments.
Bail said the implementation of their game plan went askew after they hit the lead last week, but it was a learning curve they would rebound from.
And given how heated their last battle with Brothers was, the fire had well and truly been ignited to get the full rewards this time around.
“I think we’re just coming off two losses, we’re really determined to state our presence within the comp,” Bail said.
“I think it just comes down to we were maybe a little bit flustered and we just went away from our game plan.
“But that’s something we’ve worked on at training and we’ll come to this game and show we’ve made adjustments.
“Just keeping the foot on the pedal the whole game and not letting momentum shift and change our game plan and how we plan.”
Bit by bit, Western Suburbs have improved to no longer be the competition strugglers they may have been in the past.
Many rugby league converts have joined their ranks in 2020, including a host of Townsville Blackhawks stars without the Intrust Super Cup this season.
Flair and energy has typified their outside backs, however with the likes of Carlin Anderson and Kyle Laybutt still adjusting to a new code the experience has taken time to build. But the Dragons flanker said what those players brought to the table off the field and on the training paddock had filtered through to the rest of the squad, with the professional know-how a crucial element in their charge to the 2020 title.
“They come with their own experience and they come with their own knowledge of competitive games. Whatever sport it is it does translate to 15 men on the field trying to compete for a win,” Bail said.
“Training alongside them really exposes a lot of us boys to very high levels of competition on the football and off it as well.
“I think Kalifa Faifai Loa (has stood out), just his involvement and his engagement in the club has really helped people gravitate towards him and build some great combinations in our backs.”