Warringah’s Colts have spent most of the season sitting comfortably in the top two. 

They produced the longest winning streak of any side during the home-and-away season, dropped just two of their first 16 games and looked well placed heading into finals.

The run home, however, has been anything but comfortable.

The Rats have gone winless in their last 3 outings: Gordon and Randwick in their final two regular-season games before meeting Gordon again in the opening round of finals, with the Highlanders claiming a third win over Warringah this season.

Now, the Rats get another chance, with Randwick waiting at Coogee Oval at 12:45pm on Saturday.

For coach Dave Thomas, it is a challenge the side knew was coming.

“We were feeling pretty good,” Thomas said of the lead-up to finals.

“We’d only dropped two games after 16 rounds but then we had suffered a few injuries and I think things definitely haven’t gone to plan since then,” Thomas said.

“But we’re grateful to get a second chance, I guess, this week.”

That second chance came after Gordon again got the better of Warringah in the opening round of finals.

The Rats started the game strongly, racing to a 12-0 lead, but Gordon gradually worked their way back into the contest before taking control after half-time.

“It was a do or die game for us, so to speak, as it was for Gordon,” Thomas said.

“But things didn’t go to plan, and to their credit, they played really well and took their opportunities and were able to swing momentum in the second half.”

Thomas felt his side had been in a strong position at the break, only for the game to turn.

“We were up 12-nil and unfortunately went into the halftime break at 19-all, which felt as though we were in control,” he said.

“And then rolled out in the second half, excited and relatively confident, to then be dominated in the second half.”

It means Warringah now have to deal with another familiar opponent in Randwick, but Thomas is not looking at the matchup as an unfortunate draw.

The Rats always knew Randwick would likely have to be beaten at some stage if they were going to win the premiership.

“Our goal was always to be crowned champions,” Thomas said.

“How we get there was never going to be perfect, and I said we’re just going to do what we were going to have to do seven days earlier, basically, assuming Randwick would have made the grand final.”

Every side going into the finals would have known that to win this premiership they were going to have to beat Randwick at some point. The galloping greens’ physicality, attacking ability and consistency have made them difficult to contain, particularly when they get momentum.

“It is a massive challenge because I think they’ve been the benchmark for the last two years,” Thomas said.

“They’re a quality outfit. They have been physically dominating the majority of teams that they come up against, and have scored a lot of points.”

For Warringah to pull off the result, Thomas believes the difference will not necessarily be a single player or one particular tactical adjustment. Instead, it will come down to maintaining standards when the pressure arrives.

“We’re definitely going to need to be at our best for the entire 80 if we are to knock off the favourites,” he said.

That responsibility will fall heavily on Warringah’s leadership group, with Charlie Blank, Aaron Brennan, Lewis Wilson, Riley Whitfeld and Sam Blank having played major roles throughout the season.

“They’re the voices,” Thomas said.

“They’re the ones who help build the culture and game plan and whatnot in terms of our captain and vice captains.”

Thomas also pointed to Nathaniel Thomas, Joel Cooper, Nick Hill and Riley Osborne as players who can provide the difference this Saturday.

“We’re lucky to have some experienced personnel who aren’t in the leadership group, but intelligent people, leaders in their own rights, and quality footballers,” he said.

The key lesson from the recent defeats has been consistency.

“We’ve addressed the fact that probably you could argue that in all the games that we have lost, there’s been moments in the game where we’ve been the better side,” Thomas said.

“But we haven’t been able to maintain momentum and control or execute to the standard that needs to be executed against quality sides.”

The minor premiers stand between Warringah and the next stage of their season, but Thomas knows exactly what his side needs to produce.

“It’s definitely been a topic of conversation this week and will be a challenge, no doubt,” he said.

“But one that they’re all really excited about, as am I.”