Pressure ‘ all on Sydney’
“LET’S go and do an Illawarra.”
With a wry grin, Townsville Fire assistant coach Mark Wrobel ( pictured) gives every impression they’re rapt to hand over the target on their foreheads to Sydney before the start of their semi- final series tonight.
The Fire are searching for a third straight championship but won’t have the burden of outside expectation after squeezing into the WNBL finals in fourth.
That will instead fall to the Flames, who have won their past six games and finished two games clear atop the ladder.
The fourth- placed Illawarra Hawks showed being able to play without any pressure can be crucial by beating minor premiers Adelaide to reach the NBL grand final series.
“I would say the pressure’s on Sydney. They’ve got the series win over us during the season ( 3- 1), they finished a couple of games clear on top and have a lot of expectation around their group now,” Wrobel said.
“We can probably go in and play a bit looser. We’re the outsiders in the field now, people are seeing it that Sydney should be there in the grand final. We can go and throw the cat among the pigeons.
“I know the girls definitely don’t see themselves as outsiders. Every game ( against Sydney this season) has been decided by less than six points.”
While Flames stars Leilani Mitchell and Belinda Snell have played on the big stage including the Olympics, the Fire have a clear advantage in experiencing the pressure of the WNBL playoffs.
The Flames are shooting for their first grand final appearance since 2008, and their first championship since 2001.
“We’ve got big game players in Suzy ( Batkovic), Mia ( Murray), Micaela ( Cocks) and Kelly ( Wilson), all new to the group who are proven finals performers,” Wrobel said. “That’s one of the little question marks which hangs over Sydney going into this game.
“Alex Wilson’s been there with us, Snelly’s got big game experience and while Leilani’s a great player she hasn’t necessarily been in those grand final situations.”
Wrobel said the drop in intensity in last week’s home loss to Canberra, which came after earlier results guaranteed them a finals spot, could be a blessing in disguise.
The Fire have made a habit of playing like caged lions after a poor performance, and Wrobel said it’s a timely reminder of what’s required.
“We need to go in with the intensity we do most of the time. When our backs are against the wall we play with that intensity,” he said.
“Unfortunately we didn’t show that last week. Maybe they checked out a bit knowing we’re already in finals.
“In a way it’s been a great teaching point for us as coaches, it’s really reinforced some of the messages we’ve been telling the team all year.” SATURDAY WNBL semi finals game one: Sydney University Flames v Townsville Fire at Bryden’s Stadium, Sydney, 6pm ( QLD time) Likely starting fives Sydney: Leilani Mitchell, Alex Wilson, Belinda Snell, Asia Taylor, Jennifer Hamson
Townsville: Kelly Wilson, Micaela Cocks, Mia Murray, Kayla Standish, Suzy Batkovic
UBET odds as of Friday, 12pm: Sydney $ 1.57, Townsville $ 2.40
Coverage: Live stream with former WNBL players Carly Wilson and Jenni Screen at Sydney University Flames Youtube page