Unbeaten premiers yet to hit straps

PALM Beach Currumbin have won the past two QAFL premierships and are unbeaten after the first three rounds of 2019 but in an ominous warning to rivals, coach Jess Sinclair says there are two key areas they need to fix.

The Lions average 118 points a game this season, with their latest outing a 13.14 (92) to 6.5 (41) victory over Mt Gravatt at Dittmer Park.

Sinclair said it had been a pleasing start to the year for a team gunning for a third straight premiership but said there was more to come.

He said work inside their forward 50m and their defensive transition were yet to reach the level he required.

“Our ball movement going inside 50m has been pretty average,” Sinclair said. “We have kicked over 100 in our first two games and just fell short (on Saturday). For the amount of inside 50s we are producing we are not getting enough bang for our buck so it’s something we really need to address.

“We are either turning it over by foot under no pressure or kicking to the wrong option.

“It’s more a conversation we need to have with the forwards. Jack (Anthony) is a large presence down there and Reyne Harris is a new player who has come in, while Trent Stubbs is one we have from Southport.

“The three haven’t played a lot of footy together … they are getting in each other’s way at the minute. We need to identify what role they are playing at any given time.

“We know we can’t always go to Jack as our focal point because sides are dropping off and getting in his space and intercept marking.”

Sinclair said stopping teams from rebounding out of their back half was another important area that required attention.

“Our defensive transitions are another thing we can certainly work on as well,” he said.