By Jon Geddes. Image – Stewart Hazell

THE giant killing Southern Districts have their sights firmly set on a spot in the Shute Shield finals following their stunning 26-19 win over competition frontrunners Hunter Wildfires on Saturday.

So far this the season the Rebels have already claimed the scalps of the top two sides in the competition, Hunter and Gordon.

“We are just looking to build a bit of momentum now hopefully,” coach Jayson Brewer told Rugby News.   

Considering all the circumstances, Saturday was a huge result with the Wildfires on top of the table and Souths running last heading into the game played on a brisk evening in Newcastle.

The win, which Brewer described as his team’s best team performance of the year, came as a surprise to everyone except Souths.

“From our internal environment as a playing group we don’t see Saturday as an upset,” Brewer said on Sunday.

“We worked really hard for that win to be honest.     

“We just put together a solid 80 minutes – which we have done three times this season and come away with three wins.”

Further buoyed by the big victory away from home, Souths regard a finals berth as a very achievable goal.

“Definitely one of our key markers as a group is trying to get into that top six,” Brewer said “The boys have a bit of belief and hopefully we’ll go on a bit of a run now.

“But we are also realistic as a group and are going to keep building. We’ve just got to stay fit, stay healthy, believe in each other, trust in each other.”

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

SOUTHS came up with the right tactics by taking on the Wildfires at their own game.

“Hunter are a quality team and aren’t on the top of the ladder for no reason,” Brewer said. “They are a big side so we needed to match their physicality, which we did.”

The key points for the week at Sylvania Waters heading into the clash were that physicality, the work off the ball and out enthusing the Wildfires.

With a big turnover of players over the off-season Brewer knew it would take time for everything to come together.

“Our connection and cohesion have really started to gel the last couple of weeks,” Brewer said.

Brewer was very happy with the performances of his hardworking backrow Angus Allen, English recruit  Archie Hosking from Exeter and Tupou Sopoaga.

He said dashing fullback Isaac Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is without doubt one of the form players in the competition.

“He’s definitely got it in him to go to the next level and it will be interesting to see what opportunities are around the corner for him if he keeps playing as consistently as he now,” Brewer said.

No.10 Cooper Hansen in his first season out of Souths Colts scored a good try at a crucial moment on Saturday and Brewer said he has been outstanding the last couple of weeks.

THE C WORD

“For us it is now backing up next Saturday against Manly (at Manly Oval) and being consistent with our performance,” Brewer said.

“They are also a quality side but a different style to Hunter, they like to move the ball a lot more, so we will have to come up will be a different game plan again this week.    

“A lot of the games this year we’ve either been in front at halftime or been in front with 20 minutes to go and then we just haven’t been able to close it out.

“And that’s on us, just around our execution and decision making.

“We are just looking to build a bit of momentum now hopefully.

“Pretty much every game now is going to be important if want to get into that top six.”