Thunder keeps it simple
With half the season gone, now is the time to stick or twist for South-West Thunder as they look to put their poor form behind them and make a run for the finals.
That may be a difficult proposition for the men though.
League leaders Far North Queensland travel to the Garden City to face a Thunder needing a change in fortunes.
The game comes at the worst time for Chris McLeod’s men. Having racked up four losses on the trot the pressure is on to end that streak against the form side in the National Premier Leagues Queensland tonight.
But the Thunder camp is in no rush to stress over missed opportunities and is relishing the chance to topple the league’s front-runners.
“They’re really looking forward to challenging the top team,” McLeod said.
“It’s a perfect scenario because we have nothing to lose.”
And with the bonus of playing at home, McLeod is hoping to use what made them formidable at home early on in the season to get their campaign back on track.
“We don’t have to reinvent ourselves, we just have to go back to what made us so successful,” he said.
“We have to work harder than anyone else in the league.”
And a back-to-basics approach is something the women will be looking to do after a big loss in round 10.
Coach Ken Bosence though isn’t sounding the alarms any time soon.
“It’s certainly not panic stations; we’re only one win outside of the top four,” he said.
And with injuries and a sickness bug that reeked havoc through the squad last week well and truly behind them, there is optimism that the second half of the season will see the team rise up the ladder.
“I am very confident of us making the top four,” Bosence said.
“The girls’ attitude is amazing.”
Facing a side just an hour’s journey east on the Warrego will give them extra incentive as they look to put pre-season losses against their local rivals behind them in an attempt to kick-start the second half of the season.
The men take on the Heat today at 4pm with the women’s clash against Western Pride tomorrow at 5pm.