Warriors brave but they pay dearly for lapse

TEN minutes of “bad footy” cost Waratah’s chances of breaking its 22year premiership drought, co-captain Robbie Turnbull says.

Turnbull told the Sunday Territorian after the match he was “gutted, absolutely shattered” by the loss and his team failed to answer as Saints kicked four consecutive goals to close out the half.

“That’s what happens when you don’t put the pressure for four quarters,” Turnbull said.

“We didn’t go that man-on-man footy, and we just dropped the ball for 10 minutes, and they made us pay for it, and all credit to them, they’ve been a great side.

“We’ll come back bigger and better next year.”

Waratah coach Ryan Ayres said he was shattered by the 35-point loss to a team which simply outplayed them

“It’s going to hurt, it’s really disappointing but we’ve just got to regroup and come back next year,” he said.

“(I’m a) bit distraught, obviously, not the result we were after.

“St Mary’s were far too good for us on the day, when you’re not ready for it, this is what happens.”

He said Tahs started well, taking an early lead, but were unable to answer a strong St Mary’s response.

“We always knew they were going to come at us at some stage, and then it was all over before we knew it,” he said.

Tahs president Rohan Langworthy said he was “super proud” of his players despite the loss and would still “celebrate the season” over coming days.

“This will only make them stronger. We’re not going anywhere,” Langworthy said.

“It was a big step forward for the footy club (this year), it’s been a while since we’ve got in a granny.”

Waratah last played in a grand final in 2008, eight years after its last flag.

“We’re on the upward path, we’ll keep building, we’ll come back stronger,” he said.

“It’s a place people want to be at. Flags, they’ll come. They won’t define us.

“We’ll be defined on how we bond together, how we rebuild from this.”