THERE are plenty of cynics sniffing around street corners who will tell you the Grafton Redmen are at long odds to defeat Port Pirates at Stuart Park Port Macquarie in the preliminary final on Saturday.
Pirates will head into the game as short-priced favourites after convincing wins against Grafton in their past two meetings.
But try telling that to the Redmen players and coaching staff who still believe they can claim another huge scalp after their minor-semi win over the Kempsey Cannonballs last week.
In fact, Grafton are relishing carrying the underdogs tag into the match.
For Redmen coach Gary Powell, a victory against the competition heavyweights is not out of the question.
“Most of our games this year we haven’t had the same team twice. We’ve actually got a bit of continuity with our side at the moment which we haven’t had before,” Powell said at training during the week.
“They (Pirates) belted us down there, but to be honest we had a few key players unavailable. There’s no doubt Port will be extremely tough, they’re a good side, but they haven’t seen us at our best yet.”
As impressive as Grafton’s win over the Cannonballs was, Grafton will need to find another gear against Pirates who went within a whisker of knocking off Coffs Snappers in the major semi-final last Saturday.
“If we are to win, we’re going to have to be right on song with our defence,” Powell said.
“In saying that, I think we have a better defensive side now than earlier in the season. We’ve changed a few things and I also thought last week our start to the game was very good.
“We turned over a couple of balls early and normally that would result in a soft try to the opposition. But we repelled them and that was to do with confidence.
“We need to focus on our defence out wide which is going to be extremely important.”
Grafton has chopped-and-changed their backline for most of the season, however, Reilly Lawrence-King has proved a constant in the line-up, and according to Powell, the young number-15 has found another level.
“Reilly has always been a good defender but now he is getting more attack into his game,” he said.
“I think having the freedom at fullback with less structure suits him. I give him the license to do what he wants and he’s starting to gain a bit of a voice at the back and his confidence has improved.”
Powell, a two-time premiership winning coach, freely admits he’s not a fan of losing footy matches but added making the final’s series has been great for the club.
“Each week you expect more. You’re happy to make the semis but you are still not happy if you lose,” he said.
“Everyone knows I am not the best dealing with a loss. The side has done really well to get where they are, one game away from a grand final.
“But you don’t make the semi-finals by accident; you’ve earned the right to be there.”
