By Liam Cook

Wests’ forward Harry Higgins says his teammates are looking to hone their fundamentals ahead of a consequential battle with Bond on the Gold Coast this weekend.

“Coming toward the later part of the season I think we have a few things to work on to hopefully strive for those finals,” Higgins told Rugby News.

“The big thing for us going is to focus on ourselves, our detail and execute under pressure.”

The Bulldog’s currently sit atop the ladder despite recording fewer wins than the second placed Brothers and the fourth placed GPS.

A matchup with Bond this weekend is the perfect opportunity for the competition leaders to solidify their spot in finals against a determined opposition outfit.

“Bond are always a very physical and athletic team. They’ve got a lot of speed and they try to get around the corner,” he said.

“We are looking to dominate the point of contact in both attack and defence.

“Bond have a few players back and we have a few players back so it will be a great contest.”

Wests’ had a rare stumble in their season with a tight loss to Easts last weekend.

Higgins’ says the close finish symbolised the Bulldog’s occasional tendency to become complacent in game, an issue they have being trying to resolve throughout the year.

“I think in the last game we were a bit reluctant to stick to our game plan so we kind of didn’t really get as much of an opportunity to run the ball and play the attacking space footy we play usually.” 

“Our discipline definitely let us down so we didn’t get the dominance we usually do and as a team we needed to earn the right to go wide a bit more upfront and dominate our opponents.

“Nothing taken away from Easts they did a really great job setting a great foundation for their backs and utilising their skills.”

After two close losses to start to the year, Wests’ have claimed seven wins and only suffered two defeats since.

Versatile forward Harry Higgins’ says he is just glad being a part of an in-form premier grade line up whenever he gets the chance.

“I’ve been pretty lucky with the opportunity to come back to Wests and any weekend I get to play rugby with the Dogs is a good opportunity.”

“Played reserve grade for a few games but have been pretty happy with my form.”

A Wests’ junior, Higgins’ has returned to where it all began this season after multiple stints away.

“I played at Brisbane Grammar and then after school I went over to America and played a bit of club footy and got recruited to a college program.”

“I then got the opportunity to play for the US Eagles so I stayed there to play professionally for the next five or six years.

“I ended up getting a contract to come back here for West Harbor in Shute Shield and then Wests for a couple seasons.”

In 2019 Higgins was the Bulldog’s club captain but the lure of an opportunity back in the United States was too good to refuse.

“I jumped on board over in Atlanta for two seasons and finished up down in New Orleans coaching LSU.”

“At the end of that COVID hit so I decided to come back home.”

Since returning, the flanker has entrenched himself back in the club and has seen firsthand the special talent Wests’ possess.

“Connor Anderson always stands out to me because he’s one of those guys who doesn’t really talk much and he doesn’t have to because he does everything right and puts his body in places it’s not meant to be so I’d love to see him get the praise he deserves.”

“Ethan Dobbins is one of the key components to our team and no one else can compete with his work rate. He’s starting to see the rewards of his hard work.

“In the backs you’ve got ‘Navo’ and Daugunu and Cooper Whiteside. Our back three have operated so well this season.

“Our leadership from guys in the middle like Latu who steers the ship has been great.”

Narrowly missing out on premiership opportunities in recent years has given Wests’ renewed focus on the mental side of the game and the one percenters.

Higgins’ is confident his Bulldog’s teammates and coaches can maintain their strong season for the remainder of 2022.

“I think a few times this season we let some really close games slip away due to detail and execution.”

“If we take care of the little details and have fun while we’re doing it then I think the rest will take care of itself.”