Reigning GPS first XV premiers Joeys have been luckless in the opening three rounds of the 2023 season and remain winless heading into Saturday’s derby against Riverview at Leichhardt Oval.

Despite that, coach Greg Thompson remains confident his side has what it takes to return to the winner’s circle this weekend and challenge for the premiership this season. 

“It’s been unusual to start the season with back to back draws and then a tight loss,” Thompson told Rugby News. 

“But we’ve just got to keep working hard and hope that the bounce of the ball will start to go our way. 

“I thought it was going to be a tight competition, but our first three rounds show exactly how tight it is.”

Joeys opened their season with a thrilling 31-all draw against Scots at Bellevue Hill, then split the points again a week later in a 28-all draw against an impressive Shore outfit. 

Last week, they fell just short again in a 31-29 loss to Newington and find themselves in fourth place heading into round four of the 10-round competition this weekend. 

“They were three genuinely tight matches against three good sides but in saying that, I don’t think we’ve taken our opportunities enough so far this year. 

“Shore played incredibly well against us, but in the Newington and Scots games, we definitely had opportunities to win the game or to close out the game but we couldn’t quite do it. 

“They both did really well and deserved the results, but we didn’t help ourselves. 

“I think we’re close and we’re putting ourselves in positions to win games, which is better than the alternative. We’ve just got to keep working hard, believe in ourselves and have faith that things will go our way and we’ll get a win soon and go from there.”

Joeys face a season defining three week run ahead of the July school holidays, starting with Saturday’s derby against Riverview. 

The reigning premiers then face competition leaders Kings next Thursday afternoon, before hosting Scots following the June long weekend. 

Thompson said his side was solely focused on Riverview though. 

“There’s obviously a lot of history between the two schools. Usually they are very tight matches and history shows us over the last 10 or so years that it comes down to the last play of the game more often than not,” the coach said. 

“We’ve just got to stay hungry and stay in the fight, then hopefully the bounce of the ball will go our way. 

“Riverview are a very consistent side. They hold the ball for long periods and their No.10 dictates the game pretty well. They’ve got good structure where they can skin teams on the outside, so I think they’ll look to spread the ball to try and find space. 

“We’ve been working on a few ways to counter that and I think we’ve got the ability to do so.”

Riverview sit second, with two wins from their opening three rounds, but Joeys can join Iggies on four competition points with a win on Saturday. 

With the competition back to a full 10-round home and away season, Thompson seems confident his side is still in the hunt to claim back to back premierships. 

“In my experience in 10 round competitions, if you can beat everyone once and end up on 14-16 competition points, then you’re right in the hunt. 

“If you win seven games, I think you win the comp this year and that is still our goal.”

Joeys and Riverview meet at 3:15pm at Leichhardt Oval.

In the rounds other matches, Newington host Shore and Kings take on Scots.