This week, the Silktails face the Rabbitohs in the highly anticipated Manoa Thompson Bowl, a match that holds great significance for the team and its supporters. After finishing four out of five away games in a gruelling stretch, the Silktails are eager to secure a vital four-point win at home. With seven of the ten games in this first block being away matches, the team demonstrates resilience and determination throughout the season.
Executive Director Stephen Driscoll comments on the importance of the Manoa Thompson Bowl, stating, “Manoa was the first ever Fijian to debut for the Rabbitohs, so we want to honor that. His family has continued the Fijian Rugby League legacy through his son Jarryd Hayne. On a personal note, I was a ball boy as a kid for the Rabbitohs when Manoa played, and he is my close friend and my daughter’s godfather, which makes it special. There will be some other former Fijian Rabbitohs coming to chat with the team, including Fiji Bati Head Coach Wise Kativerata, which will be special also.”
Adding to the rich history of the match, our Executive Director Stephen Driscoll, Silktails sponsor, and staff member Justin Doyle also played for the Rabbitohs in the 90s, bringing a personal connection to this meaningful clash. His involvement further emphasizes the significance of honoring Manoa’s legacy.
Reflecting on the Silktails’ performance this season, which has seen three wins out of nine rounds, Stevie expresses pride in the players’ growth. “I have been proud of every performance except probably the first half of the Bulldogs game in Sydney. For the three wins out of nine rounds, that is something that we are proud of as a club. Everything has improved for us all round, both on and off the field. The one stat that hasn’t improved for us is our ability to defend the last play of a set. We are conceding four tries a game on last plays, and if that stat improves, we will win more games than we lose.”
Coach Timoci Duve echoes this sentiment and describes the team’s spirit as determined. “Determined is probably the best way to describe how they feel at the moment. We are at the last game of five consecutive away games. It is also the shortest turnaround we have had all year, flying home Monday and then coming back Friday. From a performance point of view, short turnarounds are tough. The boys were disappointed after Sunday’s loss, and a short turnaround gives them the opportunity to get back on the paddock quickly and erase the disappointment they are feeling after the Manly game.”
The excitement around the game is heightened by the return of Akuila Qoro, who has served a three-week suspension. Duve states, “We expect Aku to be back at his level best. He brings so much to the team, especially with his physicality and attacking power. He is very much raring to go, and we look forward to a good game from him this week.”
As both Stevie and Duve emphasize, this week’s game is crucial. Duve notes, “This week is worth four points with the bye the following week. We set targets every month on what points we need to take if we want to play finals, and winning this week gets us back on track.”
With the team determined to leave it all on the field, Coach Duve adds, “Our focus this week will be to execute our basic fundamentals accurately. The game is about completion, and that’s what we have been looking for over the past two games. It is an area that we really have to improve on.”
As the Silktails prepare to take on the Rabbitohs at home, the focus remains clear: they aim to empty the tank this Saturday for a vital win before heading into a well-earned bye week.
The Silktails take on the Rabbitohs this Saturday at Redfern Oval at 1pm AEST. You can watch it live on Bar TV or FBC.
