By LIZ MOORE

On the back of yet another close loss, this time to table leaders Easts, Wests prop Youri Petit said he found it more difficult to watch the 22-15 game from the sidelines than he would playing.

Out with a torn calf muscle, the French physio who generally comes off the bench for Premier Grade said it’s the suspense that’s the hard part. 

“Every weekend we have close games, there’s not much difference between each team, so the suspense is very high every weekend. So if you’re not playing it’s even harder to watch,” the injured Frenchman said.

“Losing is never a good sensation.”

The loss and other results in this round mean that Wests are no longer in contention for the finals. Petit said it doesn’t mean his side have lost any of their drive to do well, especially against UQ this weekend.

“Now we know we can’t make play-off, the only thing we can do is finish the season well with a good pace. We have no more pressure on us so we can just play with pleasure and have fun on the field. 

“Each weekend we are improving so I think it’s going to be interesting (against UQ),” Petit said. 

Petit nominated former Ireland Sevens player Shea Lalgavesi on the wing, props Liam Usher and Gavin Luka, along with backrower Jeremiah Skelton, as the players to watch for Wests. 

“For me, they all play well,” he said of his teammates.

Petit will be watching from the sidelines again as he rests his injured calf this weekend before returning in time for the last round and the finals for second grade. 

This is the first season of Australian rugby for the 27-year-old front-rower who began playing at home in south-east France before five years in Spain and last year in New Zealand. 

“It was quite interesting to see all the different ways to play rugby in the different countries,” Petit said. 

“Rugby in the southern hemisphere is more fast and skilful. Rugby in France is quite rough and tough rugby, maybe more set-piece, more static phases, maybe more slow, but it’s hard.”

As for his experience at Wests, Petit has been delighted. 

“I feel really good at Wests. The people around you make you feel at home and are very nice even when you’re not from the club, you’re from somewhere else. When you’re far from home, you always appreciate the little details.”

Petit is particularly grateful for the way Wests “legend”, Hunter Thomas, who has played more than 400 games for Wests, has taken him in to live and work with him. So too, Petit’s weekend work through Wests as a sports trainer with All Sports Physio, and rugby and soccer coaching at Nudgee College.

“I’m sad for first grade,” Petit said whilst also looking forward to playing the second-grade finals. “We won last weekend (36-34 against Easts) so we’ve already made the play-off.”

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU