BRING ON NEXT YEAR

Q It’s tough to ask when you’ve still got a game left but are you optimistic about next year?

A Someone asked me the other day if I was looking forward to having a break. I’m actually looking forward to 2019 – and that was after the game against Melbourne. You’d think I’d have been disappointed, and I was. But after that game, I thought, we’ve come so far. For a side that’s had nothing to play for, for the last month, we came back from a deficit against Manly, Penrith we took to golden point and we’ve been in the fight since. I’m excited about next year.

Q Do you get the feeling the players are looking forward to it as well?

A They are – and I hope the fans are as well. I hope they’re thinking: I’m going to go and get my membership for 2019 because I want to be ready to go for this. The results haven’t been where they needed to be but the performances have probably been where they needed to be, which gives the fans hope.

Q The players are winning people over with their interactions after matches as well as during games. Is that important?

A We don’t exist without our fans and our supporters and our members. I was a young kid as well at some stage and being a footy fan going to get an autograph or a photo – and I’ve been rejected by players that I looked up to and it stays with you for life. But I drive with my players the influence you can have on these young kids and supporters – that’s enormous and don’t take it for granted.