Eastwood captain Pat Sio said he and his teammates have had a tough time getting over last year’s 28-8 grand final loss to Gordon. 

After finishing the regular season in fifth, the Woodies became giant killers in the playoffs and ended Eastern Suburbs and Northern Suburbs seasons on their way to the decider that was far closer than the scoreline showed.

“I probably will never get over it to be completely honest,” Sio told Rugby News. 

“When I look back at the game, you see plenty of opportunities that we could have taken and that really burns. We’re all still feeling it but all we can do is try to convert that into motivation for this season.”

After scoring early, Eastwood let Gordon back into the game through three penalty goals then conceded a try just before half time on the back of a poor clearance kick.

The Woodies found their feet after the break though and spent what felt like an eternity scrumming repeatedly on the Gordon five metre line without reward in a period that decided the result. 

“After we scored that first try early in the game, we really should have built on that and put our foot on their throat but we gave them too many opportunities to play their way back into the game,” Sio said. 

“Then we missed a few key tackles and when you give a good side like Gordon a sniff, most the time they are going to take it. 

“There are mixed opinions out there on the scrums. Some say we should have taken the points, others think we were right to go for the try. I heard that the Gordon president actually said he thought we deserved a penalty try but that’s footy, we can’t change it now.”

Sio said the squad had an extended break after the decider to physically and mentally recover from what ended up being close to a 12-month COVID interrupted rugby season. 

But that time away worked a treat, according to Sio, with the refreshed squad now deep into a tough preseason under coach Ben Batger ahead of the 2021 season. 

“I think we’ll change our game plan slightly to allow us to be a little more expansive and a bit less predictable. Big rumbling forwards have been our bread and butter at Eastwood for a while now but that can become a little predictable and teams can work out how to stop you. 

“We want to find ways to get our backs and loose forward involved in different ways so that we have lots of variety in our attack and we definitely have the talent to do that.”

Sio said the majority of last year’s squad will return in 2021, besides star flyhalf Tane Edmed who was rewarded after his breakout season with a full time Waratahs contract. 

“As much as I’d love to see Tane back in an Eastwood jersey, it will be great to see him push for as many Super Rugby caps as he can this year. I don’t think we’ll see him much and we’re preparing that way. 

“Belly (Chris Bell) has slotted nicely into No.10 and then Harry Wilson from second grade has been training really well at fullback as well.”

While Eastwood’s lower grades have been strong for a number of seasons, the club has spent the past few seasons building its colts program and Sio seemed confident that a number of new faces would push into first grade this year. 

“It’s great when you don’t have to look outside of the club for replacements and I think that gives the younger guys at the club confidence that there is a pathway for them from colts or lower grades into first grade.”

Sio said he expected Eastwood to battle for a top three position in 2021 but admitted there will be plenty of challengers in a competition that somehow gets tighter year after year. 

“Norths will be up there again. They ran into us as we hit our peak last year on a rainy day at Rat Park. That game could have gone either way so they’ll be in the mix. Eastern Suburbs have been consistent for the last few years and then you can’t go past Sydney Uni. They’ll bounce back. 

“Gordon seem to have lost a lot of players and they’ve got a new coach. As good as a replacement as Billy Melrose is, it can be hard when there are so many changes at the club.”

The Woodies begin their 2021 campaign Western Sydney at home on April 10.