By LIZ MOORE

Recovering from only their second loss of the season in the major semi-final to UQ, Easts are ready to take on Bond, the only other team who’s beaten them this season.

The knockout preliminary final at Ballymore on Sunday is shaping up to be a top contest, with Easts prop Rhys van Nek sure his side can answer the questions they left on the field in their 22-32 loss to Bond in the fifth round of the competition.

“It’s worked out well for us because we know we’re a lot better team than we showed them the first time,” van Nek said. 

“I reckon they know that. So we’re definitely going to go out this weekend and send the message that we’re a dominant forward pack. We’re a dominant team. That why we’re going to be the premiership team. 

“We didn’t show that on the weekend or when we played them last so that’s really what we’re going to send this week I think.”

The 21-year-old van Nek said the knockout factor won’t phase the Tigers.

“Obviously you’re a bit nervous and I think you’d be scared if you weren’t a bit nervous. To be a good footy team you have to be a bit nervous cos that’s what’s going to drive you. 

“But more than nerves, we’ve got the drive and the brotherhood around us that we’ve built at Easts. We’ll help each other get through anything. 

“So two games left. Our goal is to beat Bond then beat UQ for premiership.

“We’re all about Plan A, and Plan A for us is to beat Bond this week then go Uni. Our standards are that high that we don’t want that to fall.”

The former hooker who still throws the lineout ball said the 19-37 loss to UQ on the weekend was disappointing. 

“We know we could have done a lot better in certain areas,” van Nek said. 

“I think in finals footy it comes down to one or two to three moments in a game where if someone makes a tackle, catches a ball, makes the right option, it can change the whole swing of the game. I think that’s how the weekend sort of went.” 

Van Nek said those moments included the lineouts, where after a strong start the Tigers lost 8-2 lineouts on their throw-ins. 

“It’s those moments that if we don’t execute our skills to a higher level where they should be, then it can creep into other parts of the game.”

He also tipped his hat to Uni’s performance. “They played probably the best footy they’ve played all year. Holding the ball, keeping it from us, quick breakdowns.”

Van Nek was not put off by playing against great mates and former Australian under-20s World Cup teammates Josh Nasser and SJ Tamala in the UQ front row. In fact, he revelled in practising all the mental games, tricks and “dark art” of scrummaging on them.

“It’s great,” he said. “It’s pretty funny. When your mates, you talk about things but you sort of keep little things up your sleeve and don’t let them know a few different things. They do the same to me. It’s just part of the game I guess. You don’t want to give them all your tricks or they’ll end up using it against you and vice versa I guess.

“We had a good laugh at the end of the game. We spoke about scrummaging a bit. It’s always great to verse your mates. That’s what makes rugby great I guess. During the game you aren’t mates then as soon as that final whistle blows, you have a beer and a laugh about it. It’s good fun.

“I can’t wait to do it again hopefully in the grand final in a couple of weeks.”

IMAGE: BRENDAN HERTEL / QRU