Bulls keen to defend title

As the squad hits the road to Tamworth for the second week of finals, coach Damien Kelly is keen to see the first grade Bulls return to the finals again this year. 

While Kelly said the local squad has found the competition tough in the back end of the season, he is keen to see a repeat performance after the Bulls secured a comfortable 28-11 win over the Pirates on Saturday, June 14.

While the coach said it would be a tough demand to top the Pirates on home soil, he said it was not impossible with the local squad registering a good roll-up for the next round of finals.

“It’ll be difficult, but we’ve won there before,” he said.

The Bulls will be missing centre Damien Meppem for this weekend’s clash, but Kelly said the squad was as strong as it could be and would be looking to play to its strengths against a formidable threat.

“They’re one of the better sides in the competition,” he said.

Looking to defend against the Pirates’ strong offence, Kelly said the Bulls would be focusing on tactical plays, improving on the side’s performance against Gunnedah on Saturday, August 23.

“We played well in patches,” Kelly said, leading the Bulls to a 36-24 victory on home turf.

While the coach said the team was going into match with confidence, he said the finals competition would be tough with season favourites Narrabri Blues looming in the grand final match and registering only one defeat against the Pirates in round three.

Nonetheless, Kelly said the team was looking to buckle down and get the job done.

“We know where our strengths are,” he said.

“We’re here now so what we’ve done before doesn’t really matter.”

The anticipated finals match will kick off from 3pm on Saturday at Chillingworth Oval in Tamworth.