Hiku desperate to do better in Chooks clash
MUST do better. That was Peta Hiku’s own report on his performance against the Bulldogs in Bundaberg last week.
The 29-year-old was stripped of the ball by Josh Addo-carr following a Matt Burton grubber kick as the Dogs stole an early march on the Cowboys.
Hiku was also beaten on the outside as Burton went over for Mick Potter’s men as they went out to an early 10-point lead.
The New Zealand international was damning of his performance in the early stages of last Sunday’s clash, saying: “I just got into the game late. I was making good decisions but just not getting my body to where it needed to be.
“The way I started that game was just not good enough. I was there re mentally but I think physically ally I just need to be a bit better. er.
“I didn’t prepare well ll enough to be my best at t the start of the game.”
The Cowboys play y their third game on the he road in succession against nst the Roosters at the Sydney ydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. rday
In both the previous games the Cowboys have had to come from behind to win.
Hiku said while being on the wrong side of the scoreboard against the Roosters would be more of a challenge, the team would not be too worried if they gave up an early lead.
“I don’t think the score will worry us too much,” he said. “I think it depends on how we get to that point.
“If we play good footy, we’re getting high completion rates and get into a kick, and they still jump up 10-0, then we will not get bored of what we do.
“But if we can stay in the game and if they get ahead at least they have got a bit of fatigue in them, and we can come back into the game strong.
“If we play the game the right way from the start no matter what the score is, we will be there at the end.”
Hiku said with four regular-season games left and the Cowboys clear in second spot, thoughts of the players would naturally turn to finals football, but their eyes were still on the immediate target of the Roosters on Saturday. “It’s hard not to look to the finals when you’re going so well,” he said.
“But I think for us, that’s where we want to finish, so, I think that just narrows our focus back to week-in week-out.
“We can’t afford to be thinking ahead, otherwise we just sort of drop off.”