By MARK CASHMAN

It’s been a tough year for the Western Sydney Two Blues but they can look to the efforts of their No.9 Sam Babb and opensider George Prain as bright spots in the first half of the Shute Shield season.

The Two Blues are yet to record a win in 2021 and the scorelines have been heavily lopsided but it must be said that doesn’t give an accurate reflection of the effort that has been put in.

Here’s what coach Joel Rivers thought about the first half of the season:

ALL THE NUMBERS

Played 9, won 0, Lost 9
Points For: 111
Points Against: 397
Differential: -286
Ladder position: 13th on two points

How would you describe your first half of the season? 

We started positively with some tough games against the top Shute Shield sides. We had plenty to work on but the team were mostly executing the game plan, we just needed better decision making. Losses are always tough, especially when you get a number in a row at the start of a season.

A number of serious injuries to major players then kicked in which really had a negative impact on the team. We lost our two main centres, two locks, a front rower and a fullback. Added to that we lost a few more players to work and family commitments.

All of this impacted the playing group significantly and meant more junior players needed to step up. It certainly has been a tough season.

Who has been the standout player so far?

Sam Babb our No.9 and George Prain our open side breakaway have been work horses for us. Their efforts at training and on the field are second to none. Riley Jacobson our captain and Nick Blacklock are also excellent for the team.

Their leadership, work ethic and commitment are hard to find in players today. They do the hard yards and put in 100 percent each week. Allan Rathbunn our lock has also been a great leader in the forwards. He has been injured for a number of week and the team has really missed him.

Tevita Vea our No.8 has been immense for us too. His ball running and defensive contact has been excellent.

What’s been the difference between your best and worst performances so far this year? 

While the scorelines don’t reflect the effort the boys have been putting in, the difference between our best and worst performances has come down to defensive intent, patience and good decision making.

When the team trusts their team-mates and execute their hit-stick tackles they are a tough team to play against, especially when they are patient in defence and turn the ball over through solid hits and cutting down the opposition options.

When we then combine this with good execution in attack they look dangerous.

When the team doesn’t have the defensive intent equal to our oppositions attack then the game gets away from us and the boys start playing catch up rugby.

Patience goes out the window and they start taking options which put us under more pressure than needed. At time we are our own worst enemy, which is disappointing because they are capable of negating this type of play.

How does your squad look for the backend of the season?

There is no doubt we have been heavily depleted in the top squad. This is not an excuse, just the reality of the position we find ourselves in for the back half of the season.

Despite this the players and coaching staff are committed to working hard in order to perform on game day and grabs some wins.

Which two teams will play in this year’s grand final? 

I think Easts and Sydney Uni will be in the grand-final this year. Both teams are playing really good rugby.