It’s all or nothing in Q-cup finals tilt
BLACKHAWKS coach Aaron Payne says his team is left with a simple equation; win the last three games of the season or miss out on a top-eight spot in the Queensland Cup.
The Townsville outfit was coming off a two-week break but unable to raise its game to hold off North Queensland rivals Northern Pride in a chastening 22-10 defeat at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday.
Saturday’s defeat dropped the Blackhawks to 10th spot on the Q-cup ladder, two points behind Easts Tigers, who occupy the last place in the top eight, and Cairns, who moved up to seventh on points differential after their derby win.
Payne was disappointed in his side’s showing, particularly after a fortnight’s rest following the 22-22 draw with Redcliffe Dolphins in round 19.
“Our skill execution was as bad as it’s been all year,” the former Cowboy admitted. “That just helped them stay on top and put them under no fatigue.
“The trade-off from that was we did a lot of defence. Our team defence was fine, but the tries we let in were soft and that was very disappointing.
“It was just some poor individual defence.
“Given the fact there was so much at stake in that game, it was disappointing how we played.”
Payne said there was no room for mistakes now with three games left against the Hunters, Seagulls, who are currently in ninth, and North Devils, who sit sixth, three points ahead of the Blackhawks.
“It’s frustrating,” Payne said of the defeat to the Pride.
“Everything we spoke about and everything we planned for was exactly what happened.
“It’s a simple equation now. We need to win three games of footy, so we need to treat every game as if it’s our last and have that urgency and desire.
“As a coaching group, we will keep working hard and push the same messages and just hope the penny drops with the players. If individuals play to their potential, then I certainly think we can win games. But if we are not playing to our potential … there’s a chance we won’t be playing finals footy. It’s as simple as that.”