PIRATES CONFIDENT BREAKTHROUGH IS NEAR
PIRATES head of rugby Buck Heron believes the club are not far off sending a statement to the rest of the competition, as his squad continue to search for game-winning chemistry.
With 22 new faces joining the Bond ranks for the Gold Coast and District Rugby Union season combinations were always going to take time to form.
Despite not yet registering a win in 2022, each outing has been close affairs, with their 29-17 loss to Nerang on Saturday their biggest defeat of the campaign. Heron said he and the coaching staff were “pleasantly happy” with the direction they were headed, ahead of their blockbuster second bout with Griffith Uni Colleges Knights this week.
“When you bring so many new players into the club you need to give them the chance to put their hand up. I think we’re in a good place,” he said.
“I think it’s the player chemistry and with the poor weather and preparation for pre-season games each week is an opportunity to build combinations, so I think we’ll get there. You’ve got to give the guys the opportunity to try and make the squad and we’ve done that for the first round. It’s week by week, and we’re pleasantly happy with the progress.”
A hat-trick to Bulls hooker Liam Cordell ultimately proved the difference on the scoreboard, as the wet conditions turned the game into a battle of the forward packs.
Pirates second rower William Parker crossed for a double to keep Bond in the contest, however ultimately Nerang proved too strong on the back of their brilliant win over the Knights last week.
The Pirates were forced to shuffle around their starting side in the lead up to the contest, with regular flyhalf/fullback Ethan Lolesio one of several men ruled out for an extended period. With Lolesio on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, club champion Damien Timms took back the No.15 jersey he wore last season, after his determined display on the wing against Surfers Paradise the week prior.
And Heron was confident no matter who was ruled out, he and coach Paul Jeffery would have the men on deck to cover those losses.
“We’ve got enough depth to cover. He (Timms) has been a regular 15 last year and the year before he’s always been a 15,” Heron said.
“He punches well above his weight. He’s only about 70kg ringing wet, and he’s tough and quick and he’s really passionate about the club. We’re OK, and we’ve got a few boys out with injury and the long weekend don’t help (with player availability), but we’re excited and we’re still building.”