By Jon Geddes

A tough team talk after their drama-charged start to the season proved the catalyst for the amazing resurgence of Gordon in this season’s Shute Shield.

Skipper Milan Basson admits the Highlanders were rattled after their first round 16-7 loss to Souths which followed a period of turmoil at the club. Coach Billy Melrose only returned to his position a day before that season opener match after his shock resignation.

“Souths put it to us in that game,” the in-form No.8 admitted.

Fast forward seven weeks and Gordon currently sit in second spot on the  ladder, winning six games and losing only one more. On Saturday they face a top-of-the-table clash against frontrunners Hunter Wildfires at Chatswood Oval and Basson will again lead the side into the big game as regular skipper James Lough returns from injury off the bench.

The Highlanders have really been the competition’s quiet achievers, going about their business with a minimum of fuss after many people predicted last year’s grand finalists would implode due to the chaos on the eve of the competition kick-off.

“After that first round we weren’t where we wanted to be,” Basson told Rugby News. “That Monday after the Souths game we broke it down and set some standards and some expectations.

“Training and games from then on have been a lot better, a lot sharper. We started to get a bit of momentum and we are in a good spot now.

“I think going through events like that helps the team stick together.”

ON BOARD WITH THE COACH

BASSON said much credit for the team’s current position must go to Melrose.

“He’s been very focussed since he got back,  I think it took a lot out of him to make the decision to leave and even bigger to come back because I do know he really cares for the team,” the Wahroonga Tigers junior said.

A number of the team reached out to Melrose during that difficult period to express their support.

And Melrose has previously told Rugby News that loyalty to the playing group was instrumental in his decision to return.

“We really respect him and we wanted him there,” Basson said. “It was definitely the right decision for him to come back.”

ROOM TO MOVE

WHILE Gordon are right now in a good place, Basson said there is still plenty of improvement to be made in the team’s performances through the second half of  the draw.

“We are doing a lot of defending, not so much attacking,” he said. “That’s been a part of us getting closer, the amount of tackles we are doing. In the game with West Harbour we made over 230 tackles.

“I’d like to play a game where we have more than 40 per cent possession.” 

Basson has been encouraged that in the last two game against Easts and Sydney University the team has started to take their opportunities with the ball, scoring a total of 81 points.

He said hooker Tomas Maka, who scored seven tries in the past two games, has really hit form while winger Oli Arcus and centre Barrie Karea have also been impressive.     

Arcus scored a spectacular try against Uni and Basson said Karea has been doing the hard carries, allowing the team to get front foot ball.     

FACING THE WILDFIRE HEAT

THE Wildfires head into Saturday’s game after their surprise 26-19 loss to a very committed Souths at home.

From taking any comfort from that result, Basson said that only makes Hunter more of a danger.

“They were going to be a threat either way,” he said. “A quality team the way they are playing right now, after a loss they are going to do everything they can to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“I reckon they are going to be up for it this weekend.”

A big focus at Gordon training this week has been on the physicality they are going to face on Saturday.

“There is only one way to go about it and that is to front up on the day,” Basson said.

Gordon will be without halfback Harrison Goddard, a dominant performer in last week’s 41-28 win over Uni, and backrower Ola Taulangi, who have both been called into the Waratahs’ squad to play the Crusaders.