Forbes Platypi have a lot of work to do in training according to coach Heamani Lavaka after their most recent trial match against Cowra.
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The Platypi went down 20-5 in Friday night’s game against the Eagles.
Lavaka said one of their biggest downfalls was the number of players who turned up on the night who hadn’t yet been to training.
“We had a lot of new players turn up - about 27/28 players all up and some of them it was the first time I’ve seen them play,” he said.
“When I put the guys in that have always been at training we were looking good but when I was mixing everyone in we didn’t look as good...they didn’t know some of our calls.
Lavaka said in the two terms out of three that he mixed up the team with players that had and hadn’t been to training, Cowra were scoring three tries to every Platypi try.
Conversely, in the one term that Lavaka played all of the players who had been turning up to training they were the better side.
Forbes spent the majority of game on the defensive but Lavaka was impressed with the boys’ effort.
“We were defending for about 70 per cent of the 80 minute game, so it was good to hold them up that long,” he said.
Lavaka said Cowra will be a tough side this year with a brand new coaching staff, three of whom he used to play with at Easts Rugby Union Club in Sydney.
Forbes was also missing a few key players on Friday night including Jack Hammond, who was out for the game, and Simon Flynn, who is yet to play this season.
There were, however, some standouts in the match against Cowra.
“Jarrod Hall was leading in the forwards and was very impressive,” Lavaka said.
“He’s experienced and will be one of the guys we’ll build the side around.
“Josh Coulthurst was playing out of position, he was playing five eighth and fullback and he did really well.”
Lavaka said they have plenty to work on in training and it is important that everyone turns up.
“It’ll be more about our set piece and we’ll work on our scrum, line-ups and breakdowns,” he said.
“Hopefully everyone comes to training so they know our calls and our play which will make everyone’s job easier.”
Lavaka hopes to have a full team in place for their final trial match against Condobolin on Thursday, April 2 before the season kicks off after Easter.
