Believe it or not, we’re already at the halfway point of the 2018 Premier Rugby season and the competition is shaping up to be a doozy.

This week, Rugby News spoke to all nine Premier Rugby coaches to get their thoughts on the first half of the season and find out what each side will be working on in the run towards the finals.

Souths: 1st – 6 wins, 2 losses

Souths picked up Quade Cooper a few weeks out from the start of the season and started the year with a bang, winning their first five matches.

While injury has slowed Cooper’s Premier Rugby campaign, the Magpies are still first at the halfway point of the season and will be  a serious threat this year, if they can keep their troops on the park.

How would you describe your start to the season? 

“I’m pretty happy with our first round. I’ve been really pleased with our set piece and I think our defence has improved from last season, which has been a focus,” Magpies coach Elia Tuqiri told Rugby News.

“We have a goal to be in the top four at this point of the season but I didn’t expect to be leading the competition.”

Who have been your best performers so far this year?

“Jack Farrell, Tautalatasi Tasi and Emori Waqavulagi have been three of our most consistent performers each week.”

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success? 

“We just need to continue to keep getting better, both as a team and individually. That’s the focus heading into round two. The collision will also be an area we spend a lot of time focussing on in the back end of the year.”

GPS: 4th – 4 wins, 3 losses

Jeeps have shown glimpses of their best in the opening half of the season but have struggled to piece together back to back performances this year.

Despite that, last year’s grand finalists sit dangerously in fourth position and could finish even higher if they find some consistency.

How would you describe your start to the season? 

“We’re comfortable with where we are sitting at the moment. Ultimately we want to finish the home and away season in the top two, but we need to perform week in week out if we want to do that in such a tight competition,” Jeeps coach Anthony Mathison said.

“I think we’ve shown what we are capable of in some matches but we need to be more consistent in the second round.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“Matt Gicquel has been a standout for us with his presence at the breakdown, work rate and ball carrying.

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success? 

“For us, we know we are capable of being a genuine contender in the competition and we’ll be doing everything possible to make sure we keep improving in the key aspects of how we play.”

Bond University: 7th – 3 wins, 5 losses

Brilliant one week, battlers the next. It’s hard to know what Bond side is going to turn up each week.

At their best, the Gold Coast side can beat anyone and they did in round 3 against UQ, but consistency has alluded them so far this year, something Sean Hedger would like to change immediately.

How would you describe your start to the season? 

“We were fairly consistent early in the year but we had two poor losses after we had injuries to a few of our key players,” Hedger told Rugby News.

“Obviously we would prefer to be higher on the ladder but given the competition is so tight from third to seventh, we’re satisfied that we are still in the finals hunt.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“Tai Ford and Harry Nucifora have both been standouts and are leading the team well on and off field,” Hedger said.

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success? 

“We need to find a way into that top four and play finals footy. Once you’re in the finals in this competition, anything can happen from there.”

Brothers: 8th – 2 wins, 6 losses

Brothers haven’t found their best in the opening half of the season, something coach Carl Marshall is happy to admit.

But the 2016 premiers remain in finals contention and could still be a threat this year if they can find a way to close about tight matches in the back half of the season.

How would you describe your start to the season? 

“It has been a frustrating season and we are clearly disappointed with our position on the table after the first round,” Marshall told Rugby News.

“We have not been consistent enough throughout the entirety of games but we are very close, and have lost our last three games by a total of 10 points.”

Who has been your best performer so far this year?

“One of our best players has been Harry Wilson who has a tremendous work rate and has been consistently dominant with his ball carries.

“He’s in his first year out of school so we are looking for our senior players to step up now and inspire the younger players to achieve our potential.”

What do you need to do over the next 9 rounds to consider 2018 a success? 

“To improve we need to cut down our errors at critical times and put teams away when we have the opportunity to do so,” he said.

“There is still a great feel around the group and we are all working hard and are dedicated to finishing the season strongly to make the Brothers family proud of our efforts.”