By Adam Sheldon

Easts head coach Simon Craig says last weekend’s defeat to UQ was the wake-up call his team needed, as the Tigers look to respond with a strong showing against a desperate Souths outfit this weekend and edge closer to locking in a top-two finish.

While the Tigers still sit second on the ladder, level on points with Brothers and one ahead of Wests, Craig said the timing of the 19-point defeat to UQ might prove to be a blessing in disguise.

“We just didn’t turn up,” Craig told Rugby News. 

“We didn’t want to lose that one, but it’s a bit of a wake-up call. Any team can beat us if we’re not switched on.

“We’re a blue-collar, underdog club. We like coming from behind. Being out in front in the comp maybe got to us a bit – a few of the boys probably struggled with that. Getting their asses wiped by UQ might have been the perfect tonic.”

While much of the attention is on a blockbuster clash with Brothers in three weeks – potentially a straight shoot-out for the minor premiership – Craig said the focus was now on Souths, who are fighting to stay in the top four after a one-point loss to Bond.

“They’re going to be desperate – if we beat them, they’ve got the bye coming up and there’s a real chance they could slide out of the four,” he said.

“They’re a big, physical side who can run over the top of you if you’re not prepared. For us, it’s just about doing what we do well – making our tackles, sticking to our style of footy and getting our detail right. If we do that, we’ll be a real handful.”

Easts will be without backrower Setefano Leilua Funaki for the rest of the year after he broke his arm last weekend, but Craig said the club’s overall injury list remained light, and reinforcements were returning at the right time.

“Charlie Scott came back last week, and Xavier Boyle will be back for Brothers. James Livingstone and Dougal Gray will also be back in the next week or two,” he said.

“We have had a good run with fitness this year and the guys who are in the rehab room will have time to freshen up and will come back in good shape. That’s how I look at it.”

With just four rounds to play and with Easts and Brothers having a game in hand over Wests, Craig said the equation to finish in the coveted top two was clear.

“If we beat Souths and get a five-point win, it keeps us in front of Wests and level with Brothers,” he said.

“Once we have done that, we have a three-week block until finals. We go Brothers, Sunnybank and GPS. 

“We’ve got to win the games we should win, and then throw the kitchen sink at Brothers. If we can win three out of our last four games, we should be okay to make the top two.”