by Paul Cook –

An opening day win over the two-time reigning Premiers is a pretty good way to kick-off a new season. But for the NSW Country Eagles, perhaps the biggest positive to come out of that 22-12 triumph over Brisbane City was that they achieved it without firing on all cylinders.

A decent first half display was just lacking the execution in the red zone that could have taken them out of range for the title holders, too much dropped ball no doubt frustrating the Eagles’ coaching team. And while the second half saw the defence scramble well to ensure victory with City holding sway in terms of possession, they were largely forced to do so because of their set-piece struggles – a 79% success rate at lineout time and 40% in the scrum an obvious Achilles heel.

“It was a good first hit out and even better to get the win,” burly no.8 Sam Ward told Rugby News this week. “There were definitely some positives to come out of the game with our effort and our fight back with the scrum, but still things to work on. I think with more time together those passes will start to stick and so forth.”

History tells us that round one of the NRC is not necessarily the best indicator of a side’s potential. Even with the largely extended lead-in afforded the squads this year off the back of the major club grand finals – three weeks for the Shute Shield and Queensland Premier Rugby, two each for the deciders in Canberra and Melbourne but only one in Perth – there is always going to be a fair amount of cobwebs to be blown away by groups of players and coaches that are still getting used to one another.

No points scored in the opening quarter last week, and a combined total of only 34 by the final whistle, flew in the face of a competition that has averaged a touch over 67pts per game in it’s first two years. In mitigation, it was a contest between two sides expected to be firmly in the mix by season’s end, neither of whom wanted to get off on the wrong foot in such a short-sharp season. But it is a sure bet that their respective attacking prowess will only improve with each game.

“I definitely think the result and the performances were a nature of the game and the limited preparation,” agrees Ward. “It was only four weeks ago that I walked into training along with most of the squad and put my hand out and introduced myself. Those combinations don’t happen over night, it takes time and the longer we are a group and the more we train together, the less passes will go to deck, our timing will improve, and the communication will become clearer.”

Of course, the added hurdle the Eagles have had to straddle is the amalgamation of two teams, with the Sydney Stars side that reached last year’s semi-final disappearing from the competition and re-emerging under the NSW Country umbrella. Add to the mix the likes of Ward and Tom Hill, who arrived from the Sydney Rays; Kyle Godwin, who is stopping off in Sydney en route from the Western Force to his new career with the ACT Brumbies, and Tayler Adams, a kiwi flyhalf from West Harbour, and team bonding and culture have played an understandably large part of their preparation.

Once a Star, now an Eagle: Tolu Latu flying high against Brisbane City last weekend – Photo: AJF Photography

NRC fans will also be pleased to know that Pete Playford, the former Sydney Stars head coach who adopted a star in the team’s name as part of his ‘different’ approach to engaging his playing group last year, has lost none of his innovation in his new role as Eagles General Manager.

“So far I have really enjoyed my time with the Eagles,” says Ward. “They are a top bunch of boys with a very professional staff. I have learnt some things about wedge-tail eagles that I didn’t know before and Pete has also introduced our soil urn, which we take to every game and will collect soil from the country. He definitely has a refreshing take on things!”

Next up for the Eagles is a daunting trip to Canberra this afternoon to take on a UC Vikings side chock-full of Brumby talent, and one that ruthlessly dispatched Queensland Country 58-20 on the Gold Coast last weekend. They scored eight tries, made 656 metres and created 19 line breaks across the 80 minutes, but it is the age-old battle up front that Ward believes will decide matters at Viking Park. The additions of skipper Paddy Ryan and fellow Waratah Tom Robertson to the front row, will certainly boost their cause.

“It’ll be yet another tough set-piece challenge and it’s definitely the key to winning games in the NRC. Naturally, more time on the training paddock and having those experiences during the game is going to improve our execution in those areas. To get our captain Paddy back, and someone of the calibre of ‘Robbo’, is invaluable to the team. The Vikings have a strong forward pack, all of whom are hard workers, but we are looking forward to the contest.”

The chance to test himself against professionally contracted players is one that Ward has relished since the NRC first kicked-off back in August 2014. Still chasing that Super Rugby dream, the combative backrower will be taking on a batch of Brumbies with some added starch in his corner this time around, having enjoyed a taste of the professional arena himself over the last year with a stint in Italy. But any personal ambitions are put firmly to one side in search of team success.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing against strong opposition but nothing changes for me,” he says. “I think my experiences in Italy have given me a fresh outlook on life and how I go about my training and rugby, but I’ve got nothing to prove on Sunday. I have a job to do for the team and that’s what I’m going to do!”