Souths youngsters turn around season to target finals.
The Cutters' youth brigade is inspiring the side out of a mid-season slump and into finals contention in a massive turnaround at the tight-knit South Cairns club.
Player-coach Daniel Lock was at a loss during the season, labelling his side either too young or too old and out of luck when they slid to eight straight defeats.
But they have turned it all around since then, beating Manunda to snap the streak and following that up with a win over Centrals Trinity Beach and a close loss to defending champions Saints last Saturday.
There have been no changes in personnel though, rather a significant response from the players already at the club. "The kids are playing like they have 70 games under their belt. They're inspiring and driving us older blokes on at the moment," Lock said. "The belief is there now. I guess it's that hard work paying off a bit."
Souths are locked in a battle with Centrals and Manunda for fourth place, currently ahead on percentage from the Bulldogs with four rounds remaining.
"Our destiny is in our hands. If we keep winning we'll be there," Lock said. "And I've always said finals is a little reward. It's a privilege to play finals."
After last weekend's narrow win, Saints forward Matthew Walsh backed Souths as the team most likely to fill that fourth place. But Lock said unless they manufactured some results, that praise would not mean much.
"I won't stand here and say we're better than this team or that team. At season's end then I guess the ladder speaks for itself," he said.
Their opponents tomorrow afternoon at Fretwell Park are the last-placed Cairns City Lions, who beat Souths earlier on this year in one of only two victories this season.
"It'd be nice to pick off Lions and Manunda, but every game is tough and you'll look silly if you go into it complacent," Lock said.
Centrals Trinity Beach were too good for Lions last weekend, but Bulldogs coach Peter Seymour was impressed with their improvement. "I thought it was a pretty good game," he said. "Lions played well and I'm really happy with how we've developed into a side that can compete every week."
Centrals play Manunda tomorrow with both sides breathing down Souths' neck for that crucial fourth spot.
For Seymour, the finals aren't the be all and end all, though. "If we want to finish in the top four we need to win this week and making finals would be sensational. But we can'tlose sight of where we want to be," he said.
"The job's nowhere near finished here and we're already well ahead in terms of recruiting for next season."
Up in Port Douglas tomorrow and at the pointy end of the ladder will be North Cairns, taking on the Crocs.
Port need a victory to remain level with Saints, who have the bye.
Last Modified on 23/09/2013 15:36