With challenging conditions expected and their opponent returning to action after a week of rest and recuperation, the Parramatta Eels have downplayed suggestions that their habit of taking their foot off the attacking pedal could haunt them against the North Queensland Cowboys.
The Eels have improved their consistency significantly towards the back-end of the year, but thereโs no denying that theyโve shut up shop a little early in the past โ especially against the competitionโs top teams.
Though they kicked the habit in their semi-final against Canberra, the clubโs recent form against top teams has seen them fail to carry on with fast starts.
They were right with the Panthers in the qualifying final, trailing but just one point at half-time, but they lost the second half 20-2. Against Melbourne the week before they surged to an impressive 8-0 half-time lead, but the margin was still the same at full-time.
Even in their massive win over the defending premiers in Round 20, they shot out to a 26-point half-time lead, only to lose the second half 6-4 despite having the extra man. In their Round 15 win over the Sydney Roosters, they didnโt score a point in the entire second half, losing that stanza 4-0.
Despite the consistent numbers, co-captain Clint Gutherson said itโs not been a factor in the clubโs preparations or discussions โ especially if they keep winning.
โIf youโre winning at the end of the game, thatโs all that matters,โ Gutherson said.
โIf you can score 50 in the first half and not score again, youโre still going to be happy.
โIt doesnโt matter how you win them. If you need to score 50 in the first half or second, you just need to win.โ
Outgoing dummy-half Reed Mahoney, who plays his 100th game for the club this weekend, was a bit more pragmatic in his analysis โ acknowledging the risks of complacency in sudden-death contests.
โ(Fade-outs) have happened in the past, but itโs finals footy now and one or two quick tries can change the game,โ he said.
โYou really have to play for 80 minutes. We know we have to hold on, itโs about building your game.โ
With temperatures expected to be sitting in the mid-20s come kick-off, with a hefty level of humidity, stamina is likely to become an issue regardless of how the teams have performed this year.
Though the club has been criticised in some corners for not heading to Townsville sooner, the players donโt believe that the weather will be as big a determining factor as itโs being portrayed. The players know that their fate is ultimately in their own hands.
โ(The heat) is just another media talking point,โ Eels rookie sensation Will Penisini told Zero Tackle.
โWe know itโs going to be hot, we played in Darwin this year. Weโll do our best to acclimatise.โ
โWeโre aware (of the late fades in key contests). A key in our game plan has been to defend well and itโs been disappointing letting in late tries in recent weeks.
โBut itโs do-or-die now, we canโt be happy to take our foot off the pedal anymore.โ
โYou have to look at the opponentโs key players and how they score tries, but at the end of the day itโs on us.
โIf we turn up and play our brand of footy itโll go a long way towards winning the game.โ