Wests played their way into the Premier Rugby finals for the first time since 2017 but their season didn’t quite have the fairytale ending Bulldogs fans were hoping for. 

After producing their best performance of the season to lead Jeeps 39-34 past the 80th minute, the Bulldogs season was ended cruelly, following an 82nd minute GPS try and a sideline conversion from Jason Hofmeyr. 

Overview with Carl Marshall:

“I’ve probably only just gotten over the semi final loss, it took me two or three weeks. Every time I feel over it, someone asks me about it again though,” Marshall laughed. 

“It was a pretty heartbreaking loss. We played some really good footy and then just struggled with a few things in those final few minutes. We didn’t control some of those key moments towards the end. If we had of controlled one of those five or six key moments, we probably would have won. 

“I think we deserved to win, but that’s not the way it works unfortunately. 

“We prepared for all different scenarios and moments leading into that game. We trained for what to do if we were down by two and what to do if we were up by two but unfortunately it’s very different in real time. 

“If we had our time back, we’d probably do a few things differently but I think we’ll grow from that and be better for it in the coming years. 

“It was a goal of ours to make finals and we did that and then gave ourselves a really good opportunity to make the grand final. Looking back, it was a successful season, it just would have been nice to get a different result against Jeeps. 

“The challenge for this side is that our team changed quite a bit throughout the year and as a result, our style of play had to change as well. By the end of the year, we were playing a good style of rugby with a strong forward pack and some talented backs. 

“We designed a game plan that created a lot of unstructured play and that really suited our back three. 

“In the second round, after the Brothers loss we picked up 22 points out of 25 and our only loss before the finals came against Easts after the full time siren.

“We were playing to our strengths and I think we connected as a team really well on and off the field. It was a very successful season, it just didn’t have the ending we were hoping for.”

What needs to happen at Wests between now and round one next year? 

“First and foremost we need to make sure that we retain the players that we’ve got at the club. 

“We want to be a club where players can come to get better and then move on to higher honours but the downside of that is that you end up losing those guys when they get picked up. 

“That’s great and it’s a part of club rugby. 

“From a playing perspective, we need to work on winning those key moments in big games. There are a bunch of moments in that GPS semi where we probably tried to play too much footy and that’s something we need to learn from. 

“They’re little things. The bigger stuff all worked well, I was happy with our attacking and defensive structures, out set piece was strong. It’s just those little moments that we need to improve on.”

Which of your players do you think can have a breakout season next year? 

“I was really impressed with Joel Atkins at halfback. He was in and out of first grade because we got access to Moses (Sorovi) quite a bit throughout the year but Joel won our most improved award this year. 

“Ethan Dobbins won our best senior player, he had a great year in his first season of first grade and I think he’s someone that can really breakout next year and then hopefully secure a professional contract after next season. 

“Liam Usher also had a great year and I think he’s deserving of an opportunity at the next level. Another good season like this one and I think he’ll get there. 

“We’ve also got 35 colts graduating into grade and there is plenty of talent in that group as well.”

What do you hope we’re talking about at this point next year? 

“Hopefully we’re reflecting on a premiership win in 2022. Last year was my first year in charge and that was a bit of a mess with Covid, but this year I think we showed some strong development,” Marshall told Rugby News. 

“Now we’ve got to take that next step and not just make the grand final but win it. 

“As a club, we made five finals and lost four of them by four points or less. The club is a lot stronger than we were 5-10 years ago but we still need to get better and learn how to adapt to play finals footy so that we can win those key moments and close out tight games.”