By Liam Cook

Norths’ head coach Pat Byron says his side’s ability to overcome adversity will need to be at the forefront of their performance against the winless Sunnybank at Biggs Oval on Saturday.

“We’re probably not where we want to be,” Byron told Rugby News.

“We’ve played patches of some good footy, but unfortunately had some lapses where we concede a lot of points in a short amount of time.

“The most frustrating thing is we’re playing fifty odd minutes of good rugby every week, but unfortunately twenty to thirty minutes of pretty ordinary stuff.

“We’ve had a horror run with injuries and lost about eight or nine starting players since that first round.

“We’re trying to regroup and rebuild.”

The Eagles’ coach believes this week’s clash, against fellow winless side Sunnybank presents as a major opportunity in the context of the season.

“It’s going to be a really good battle.”

“They’re a bit similar to us, having not started as strong as they wanted.

“Both teams are going into this week with a bit of a must win attitude.

“They’re going to play with some good skill and good physicality and we’re going to have to do well to beat them.”

Byron said Norths’ massive injury toll has disrupted early season plans and led to a greater reliance on the team’s depth.

“We worked really hard in the off-season to build our depth, but when you’ve got so many players injured and unavailable it tests your depth and your combinations.”

“Things that you worked on in the pre-season you’re probably almost having to start again with.”

Norths are yet to record a win from four games this season.

The head coach said his side’s lineouts, along with injuries, have been identified as a major reason why.

“We started off ok with a draw against Souths.”

“I thought we played ok in the first half against Bond.

“The twenty-minute lapse at the start of the second half really cost us and Bond are a good team so if your off they’re going to hurt you.

“Our lineout wasn’t good enough, which has been an issue for most of the season that the boys and coaches are working hard to fix.

“We’re struggling to retain possession because our lineout isn’t going very well.”

Bryon believes mental resilience is the key for his side as they look to gather momentum in the next stage of the season.

“The biggest thing we’ve been focusing on is competing for eighty minutes, which is something we’re not doing well enough at the moment.”

“We worked really hard on our fitness in the off season to make sure we can compete, and our fitness levels are really good.

“We now just need to work on that ability to concentrate for eighty minutes and we need to make less mistakes.”

Multiple individuals have impressed the Eagles’ head coach during the opening rounds of 2022.

“Tonga Maafu’s played really well at hooker for us.”

“Will Rogers has led by example at number eight.

“In the backline we’ve had Conor Chittenden who’s been playing well also.”

Norths are excited by the chance to represent their club on Indigenous round this Saturday.

“Indigenous Australian’s are very important to the makeup of our Australian identity,” Byron said.

“The round obviously means a lot and we hope we can go out there and do well.”