BATHURST Bulldogs colts co-coaches Shannon Felsch and Mitch Lavelle aren't sure their hearts can take another down-to-the-wire finish.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair are confident their side has what it takes to avoid a repeat of their major semi-final situation against Dubbo Kangaroos when the two teams meet again this Saturday for the decider at Ashwood Park.
A fortnight ago, in freezing Bathurst weather, the unbeaten Bulldogs had their perfect record placed under threat until a post-siren try from Thomas Felsch pushed the match into extra time.
Zac Taylor's try gave Bulldogs a 20-18 win but not before the minor premiers had been given a huge scare.
It's driven the Bulldogs to find an extra level of ability for the next clash with Dubbo, and after a positive training session on Tuesday things appear to be heading in that direction.
When the clubs meet again for the final game of the year Felsch is hopeful more supportive conditions will accompany his side.
"The weather might give us a better opportunity to play our game compared to what we had the other day. We're not a big side. We're more of a mobile side so hopefully a drier pitch will support our style of play a bit more," he said.
"I think it was probably a top of six degrees and it was snowing when I was warming the boys up. It wasn't up our alley, and we also bought into the mind games a bit. We didn't play the brand we should have been.
"Hopefully it's a bit different this week because I don't think Mitch and I could take that again. Our nerves were completely shot."
The 'Roos had to do things the hard way in order to book a grand final spot, overcoming the Narromine Gorillas 12-8 to land the rematch at Ashwood Park.
In that time the Bulldogs have been busy regathering themselves and chasing their offensive spark which took them to 13 straight regular season wins.
The weather might give us a better opportunity to play our game compared to what we had the other day.
- Shannon Felsch
Felsch said the response at Tuesday's training session was encouraging.
"It was a good wake up call for them. I put them under a fair bit of pressure at training and they were a lot more steely after that game they endured," he said.
"I thought that the semi-final gave us opportunity to reflect on how poor decisions can hurt us. Up until that game we haven't had to do a lot of decision making under pressure.
"In our game against Narromine, where it was 8-all at half-time, we had to dig our way out of that but apart from that match there hadn't been decisions made under a stack of pressure. They kept their cool, though."
Bulldogs and Kangaroos are the second match of the day at Ashwood Park, kicking off their decider from 10.45am.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...