The Junee Diesels are preparing to host the Tumut Blues this weekend at Laurie Daley Oval in a match that, while a long shot for finals contention, represents a crucial opportunity to build momentum for next season.
Diesels coach Ben Shea acknowledged that while there’s still a “bit of hope” for a finals miracle, the primary focus is on finishing the season on a high note.
“I think these last three games could probably be a good representation of where we are at and how we’ve finished the season,” he said.
The Diesels have battled through a tough run of injuries, but Shea is confident the team’s quality has shone through.
“The quality that the boys have shown in the last six weeks or so, and match it with the better teams, it’s probably more of a representation of how we’ve gone rather than making the finals,” he explained. Shea is hopeful of getting key players like Pete Adams and James Croydon back on the field this weekend, though he noted that Fol (Mika Goudemand) will likely miss the game. The team also used a week off from training to allow players to “freshen up and get on top of those injuries.”
Despite the challenges, the coach is backing his squad to perform against a top-tier opponent. “Regardless of who’s on deck this weekend, we will be backing ourselves to get the job done,” he said.
“They probably got 20 on us at Tumut, and then it’s a good chance for us now to turn that back around and show where we’re at.”
The Diesels’ mid-season signing of French lock Mika Goudemand has proven to be a huge success, both on and off the field. Shea revealed that the French World Cup hopeful has a few clubs interested in him, but Junee remains a strong option for the future.
“He came to Australia and threw his hat in the ring for higher honours, and he’s got a few clubs interested in him, and he’s loved his time at Junee,” Shea said. The coach also noted that Goudemand’s positive experience has already led to other French players reaching out to the club. Goudemand’s praise for the Group 9 competition is a testament to its quality.
“He was playing Super League last year, and then he comes out here and plays in this comp and goes, it was a pretty tough comp,” Shea recounted. “He just spread a bit of positive news about the competition, which can only be good for it.”
Shea, who is a key figure in the team, highlighted the strong club culture as a major reason he’s committed to returning next year, especially with the 100th anniversary on the horizon. He praised the volunteers and supporters, led by people like David Holt, for their dedication.
“Junee is not a natural hometown club for me… but just going there this year is what has made me keen to go back there next year, because they are all just good people,” he said.”We’ve got three guys back from France this year…and they’ve done a great job in getting them all sorted.”
The atmosphere around the club is a key factor in the team’s progress. As Shea put it, “It’s a good club to be around, the boys are a lot more confident and enjoying coming to training, so when you have that, you just keep rolling on and moving forward.”
The matchup against the Tumut Blues, a team Shea described as having “a couple of classy guys out wide,” will be a great test for the Diesels’ forwards and a perfect opportunity to build on the progress they’ve made. The team is not only playing for a win but also for the momentum that will carry them into a promising future.
– Tully Potts
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