by Paul Cook –

After owning the fledgling NRC competition for two years, Brisbane City stand on the verge of handing over their title following one win from the opening four rounds. In order to remain in contention for a finals berth, they simply must win this afternoon’s clash at Ballymore with the Sydney Rays, but they face a team smarting from their first defeat of the season last weekend, and one that could plant at least one foot in the finals themselves with victory.

So, who wants it more?

“We’ve had a big focus this week on giving it everything we have and we’ve trained really well all week,” City winger Alex Gibbon told Rugby News. “The Rays play a very fast paced game and use the ball well. They work hard off the ball in defence and attack and I think for us, we just need to focus on our game.”

With only two losses in the competition’s first two seasons, City well and truly set the NRC standard. But with Nick Stiles moving to the top of the Queensland Reds coaching ladder off the back of his successes with City; the departures of Liam Gill and Scott Higginbotham; the ascensions of Samu Kerevi, Karmichael Hunt and Cadeyrn Neville to fulltime Reds duties and beyond, as well as a batch of injuries, the chances of a three-peat were always likely to be tested.

“We have definitely lost a few top players, however, most of the squad is still the same,” reasons Gibbon. “As a team we just haven’t gelled as quickly as we would have liked to this year, and our attack hasn’t been as direct as it has been in the past.

“I just think it comes down to attitude. We have been going through the motions too much in the last few weeks and I think that this weekend is important to turn our season around. I think you will see a big change in us against the Rays.”

A first round loss to the high-flying NSW Country Eagles was not the start the reigning Premiers were looking for, particularly in such a short competition where momentum is vital. That was followed by a narrow victory over a valiant Western Sydney Rams side at Ballymore, before successive defeats at the hands of the UC Vikings and Melbourne Rising left City teetering on the brink.

“It is good to get momentum in this competition however, I don’t think for us as a team that loss to the Eagles changed anything from round one,” says Gibbon. “We have just focused on the way we play but we haven’t been able to do that yet for a full 80 minutes. I would also say that dropping one Sydney team has definitely made the competition stronger.”

Alex Gibbon crosses for a five-pointer against the Rams – Photo: Sportography

Benefitting from that realignment of playing stocks are the Sydney Rays, who have put behind them two seasons of under-achievement to paint themselves as genuine title contenders in head coach Simon Cron’s first year at the helm. Utilising the core of his Shute Shield winning Northern Suburbs side, Cron has melded in the key components around them to forge a formidable force, one that set the early pace with three wins in a row to top the ladder.

Last weekend’s defeat at the hands of the Eagles was the first loss in 17 weeks for the Norths contingent, and not being able to belt out the team song in the sheds was a stark reminder of darker days of the past. A feeling they don’t intend to suffer again at the hands of the reigning Premiers.

“Last week hurt a lot,” confirms Rays (and Norths) flyhalf Angus Sinclair. “The feeling in a change room after a win is one of the best parts of rugby so we will be hoping to get back in the winners circle this week. Brisbane is definitely a dangerous team that like the play to the widths, and Ballymore is looking great so it should be a fast game. But we are more focused on us, and will be concentrating on executing our processes for 80 minutes.”

A thrilling game at Pittwater Rugby Park last Saturday could have gone either way, but the Eagles just had the better execution in the clutch plays when it mattered, although, two late tries put a rather uneven look to the scoreline at 36-16.

“We didn’t execute our patterns, made 20 turnovers and our scrum got dominated,” says Sinclair. “Having said that we still created a lot of opportunities and could easily have won the game had we taken them. The Eagles took theirs and deserved to win.”

 But it was the season-ending injuries to lock Nick Palmer and Sevens convert Cam Clark that perhaps outweighed the disappointment of the result. It certainly hasn’t made life any easier for a squad that had already lost in-form backrower – and Angus’s brother – Hugh Sinclair for the year, as well as an enforced hiatus for top try-scorer Richard Woolf and a much-needed rest for the effervescent and combative Will Miller.

It is their strength in depth that may prove to be their biggest challenge over the next three weeks.

“The guys out injured are definitely key players and big losses for us,” concedes Sinclair. “But we have good depth and have talked about being a squad of 33 since we came together, so that when guys get a chance they step up and own the jersey. We are here to win the comp and our attitude and mindset haven’t changed.”

Given the scrum struggles against the Eagles, and the loss of two of their key lineout operators, it is probably a safe bet to suggest Brisbane City may target the Rays set-piece as they look to establish a platform in today’s encounter. The absence of the influential Miller at the breakdown may also be targeted with no.6 Michael Smith switching roles for a shot as the scavenger. But the inclusion of new Brumbies recruit Chris Alcock on the bench adds some starch if and when required.

“Hugh is the main lineout caller and ‘Sticksy’ (Palmer) is one of the main jumpers, so losing them takes some adjustment,” affirms Sinclair. “We were off a bit against Queensland Country two weeks ago but the lineout was really good last week with ‘Wellsy’ (Michael Wells) calling.

“City will definitely target the scrum after watching last week but the forwards have worked hard to fix that area at training. Will (Miller) is obviously a big loss but ‘Smithy’ has been raring for a crack at seven all year, and will bring great energy to that position tomorrow with Chris making a huge impact off the bench.”

Angus Sinclair dissects the uprights for the Rays – Photo: Getty Images

The nature of both side’s ambitions sets up a mouthwatering prospect, but on an individual level, it is another chance for both Gibbon and Sinclair to show their wares as they look to the next level.

Gibbon has been up in the Queensland system for a couple of years now and earned his Super Rugby debut towards the end of what was another difficult season for the Reds. It was his performances in the NRC last year that helped push him towards achieving that dream, and he is looking to finish the 2016 competition on a high as he seeks to tie down a new contract. There is interest from other states but Gibbon has settled well to Brisbane life and is keen to extend his Reds experience.

“I’m enjoying my time up here and really love the culture at the Reds. I feel I’m getting better and better and I want to continue to grow as a player. This year’s comp has been difficult to find some form but I’m going to keep working hard and hope that something will come from it.”

A look at the names occupying the no.10 jerseys in this year’s NRC is a reminder of the Super Rugby influence in most of the sides. Jonno Lance at Perth Spirit, Jack Debreczeni or Ben Meehan at Melbourne Rising, Paul Asquith at the Western Sydney Rams, Robbie Coleman at the UC Vikings and Jake Mclntyre for Brisbane City – all bring the experience and knowledge of their time with the Force, Rebels, Brumbies and Reds respectively.

For Sinclair then, mixing it with these guys is some achievement in itself, and to see him guiding the Rays around the paddock with such aplomb after helping his club side to their first Premiership in 41 years, is a terrific sight. Particularly when you consider he only returned from a two-year hiatus from the game at the start of this season.

“This is my first year back after two seasons off with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, so my goal at the start of the season was just to get back on the field and play with my brother,” he reveals. “Naturally, it was going to take me a while to get back to full fitness but it’s been an amazing year and I have loved every minute of it.

“The NRC is a great chance to test yourself against Super Rugby players and I’ve felt really comfortable out there, especially playing outside of Matty Lucas. I’ve always wanted to play Super Rugby so I would love a chance to play at that level, but at the moment the focus is with the Rays and hopefully going all the way.”

Brisbane City v Sydney Rays
3pm at Ballymore
FoxSports 2