Quaider Kea attempts to play make from dummy-half.
As the Junee Diesels prepare for a season-defining clash against the Temora Dragons this weekend, co-coach Ben Shea knows just how critical the next two weeks will be for the club’s finals hopes.
Coming off the back of a confidence-boosting win over Wagga Brothers and with key players returning to form, Shea is optimistic but measured ahead of the Group Nine Rugby League showdown.
“It’s going to be a big one,” said Shea. “Temora has been one of the better teams this season. We played them in the first round at home and it was 40-0. We know exactly what we’re upagainst.”
That loss in the opening round has lingered in the memory of the Diesels’ squad, not as a discouragement, but as fuel. “They’re playing at home this time and we’ll need to be on our game,” Shea said.
“The past month has been good for us. We’ve been building, slowly tightening things up. This game is a real test of where we’re at.”
Temora’s roster features the experienced Josh McCrone, who has transitioned from halfback to lock, a move that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“McCrone’s been a top-line halfback his whole career,” Shea noted. “Now he’s playing lock, still doing a job, and making space for some impressive young fellas behind him. It’s probably more about squeezing them all into the side. That move makes them more threatening through the middle.”
The Diesels, however, are no slouches when it comes to veteran fire-power. Players like Mickael Goudemand joining the Diesels after a very successful career playing against Europe’s best and Chase Bernard recently back from a stint overseas.
“Our forwards have been one of our biggest strengths, especially now that Mickael and Chase have been back a few weeks,” Shea said. “We’re starting to play well off the back of that. When you’re playing good sides, you’ve got to find an advantage somewhere. Maybe ours is in the middle.”
Temora’s danger doesn’t just lie in the middle third. Outside backs Jock Ward and Will McDermott have been clinical finishers all season. “They’re the comp’s leading try scorers, and that doesn’t happen by accident,” Shea said.
“They’re athletic, they’restrong, and they capitalise on any opportunity. We’ll need to be on our game to contain them.” Shea acknowledged the importance of scouting Temora closely ahead of the clash.
“I haven’t watched too much of them yet, but I’ll be going through their last game before training this week,” he said. “It’s about finding any weaknesses we can, whether it’s on the edges or through the middle.”
The Diesels will be missing several key players this weekend including Dan Foley, Pete Adams, and James Croydon, who is currently in England playing in an RAAF representative game. However, Shea sees it as an opportunity for others to step up.
“Those guys have been good for us this year, but we’ve got depth,” he said. “It gives others a chance to show what they can do. Our forward pack won’t change too much, but we’ll have to work a little harder in some areas.”
There are still tactical decisions to be made, including who will fill Foley’s spot in the halves. “We’ve tried a few combinations,” Shea explained. “Fol started at half last week, then we moved him to centre. One of our reserve grade players slotted in, and Cooper Van Zanten came up from the 18s and debuted.”
The Van Zanten name carries weight in Junee footy circles. Young Cooper’s debut was more than just a family moment it was the reward for months of hard work.
“He hasn’t missed a training since December,” Shea said. “He trains with 18s, then backs up with Reggies and First Grade. It wasn’t about his last name it was about him earning that shot.”
Junee’s recent results show a marked improvement. The team has conceded an average of just 15 points per game over the past month, a sharp turnaround from earlier in the season.
“Last month we were leaking 40 a game. Now we’re much tighter,” Shea said. “Against Brothers, we made some internal challenges, and goals within the game and we ticked nearly all of them. Keeping them to zero was huge. It’s the first time in a couple of years we’ve done that.”
High completion rates, improved defensive scrambling, and a more disciplined approach have contributed to this late-season surge.
“When you’re scoring a few tries, sometimes you can start playing a bit loose,” Shea said. “But we stayed focused, completed at over 80%, and that’s the kind of footy that can carry you deep into a season.”
With only a few rounds remaining, the ladder is tight, and the Diesels are chasing teams like Tumut, Young, and Albury for a finals spot. Shea believes the race is far from over.
“We’ve got tough games coming Temora, then the Roos bu tif we get up for those, we go into the last part of the season in a good spot,” he said. “Tumut’s five points ahead, but their run home is tough. A couple of 50-50 results don’t go their way, and things can open up.”
The Diesels face several teams who are also in the finals hunt, making each game a four-point affair in practical terms. “You beat someone like Albury or Young, that’s two points for us and two they don’t get,” Shea said. “That’s how we put our destiny back in our own hands.”
Looking ahead, the Diesels know they may need to start playing semi-final style footy now if they hope to reach September. But regardless of where they finish, Shea wants his side to end the season with pride and momentum.
“Not everyone can make finals every year,” he said. “But you still want to finish strong, carry something into next year, and reward the guys who’ve been working so hard.”
– Liam Stuart
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