By Jon Geddes

A PACT made by Northern Suburbs “super subs” could prove a pivotal moment for the team as the race for the Shute Shield premiership comes to the final four clubs.

The benefits of that player accord were on display as forwards Saxon Gillies and Charlie Jeavons-Fellows made massive impacts when injected into the action during Norths hard-fought 23-17 semi-final win over Hunter Wildfires at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

Their influence reinforced the fact that in the modern game “finishers” can be just as crucial to a team’s success as the “starters”.

“We got around this week and had a group chat with just us finishers,” Gillies revealed to Rugby News.

“And we really started to own that identity instead of maybe bitching and moaning ‘we should be starting’.

“We just said we are going to be there when we get to lift the trophy.

“I think that is going to work well for us in the next couple of weeks.”  

The powerful forward added real energy and Jeavons-Fellows pilfered some valuable ball, including the crucial turnover in the final play of the game when a desperate Hunter were attacking the Norths’ line in a rearguard action to try and snatch victory.

Gillies, who was sporting a bloody mouth at fulltime after a tooth went through his lip as a reminder of his whole-hearted effort, said he is now comfortable in his role as a “finisher”.

“I just tried to play my game … I thought that was my best performance I’ve had off the bench yet,” he said. “I want to keep ramping that up and doing my job for the team so we can be around in two weeks and get it done.”

THE ENERGY BOOSTERS           

NORTHS skipper Harry Burey summed it up after the Wildfires game when he said it was a whole 23-man performance.            

“I think the way the game has progressed in the few years the subs have become almost a specialist position,” he said.

“ ‘Jev’ in particular does it so well, he’s like a kelpie on a chain ready to come of the leash,” Bury said.

“When Saxon comes on with fresh legs it’s almost like he has special powers.     

“When you been out there for 60 minutes, you can’t underestimate the impact of a fresh guy coming on and taking you with him with his energy.”        

THE BIG CHALLENGE

NORTHS coach Zak Beer said that Norths tough draw heading into the play-offs had conditioned his team for the pressure of finals football.

“The last 10 or 11 games we have played have been really gritty affairs and we have found way to wIn  – and that’s what you’ve got to do in finals matches,” he said.

But as Beer prepares his team for this Saturday’s final against Manly at North Sydney Oval, he was realistic after the victory against a spirited Wildfires’ outfit who just wouldn’t go away.

“We were good today but we need to be great,” Beer said.

His message to the players in the huddle after fulltime was simple: “We need to find a way to continue to lift, and that is really important. If we think playing at that level is going to be enough to get the job done, that won’t be the case.”

He said every individually and as a group needs to continue to lift the ceiling.

“That is a challenge, and it is an exciting challenge,” Beer said. “We need to deliver a complete Norths performance.

“We strive for progress, not perfection, and we keep pushing the bar higher and higher.”

Beer was very happy with  the work that Norths did off the ball which has been the foundation of their success.

It was no coincidence that Gillies and Jeavons-Fellows were prominent in that area when Hunter applied real pressure in the second half.

“Hunter have scored 80 per cent of their tries from either mauls or pick and drives,” Beer said. “We let one maul try in but the amount of tackles we made in our own 22 to hold them out – they are the things that take a team to the next level.”