One of the most poignant images of last year’s Premier Rugby season was of Wests backrower Connor Anderson slumped on his knees with head in the turf at Ashgrove.
Anderson and the whole Wests side had just been crushed by a 41-39 heartbreaker on full-time in a sudden-death semi-final against GPS.
The fuller story was that the Bulldogs had blown a 24-3 lead and their quest to play in the club’s first grand final since 2006 would go on.
The pain of that afternoon has not been wasted. It has been the fuel for a vibrant 2022.
Wests surged through the regular season as minor premiers but that counts for nothing now there is a major semi-final to play against the University of Queensland on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are back at Ashgrove with everything still to prove in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.
“Just win. It’s nice to be minor premiers but we’ve still got one more job to do,” is Anderson’s simple summation of all that matters.
“We were gutted last year. The key takeaway was never take a lead for granted. We got a bit comfortable with that early lead, GPS charged, the momentum swung and it was too late.”
Finishing off teams in tight finishes was an Achilles heel that the Bulldogs had to address this season. Beating Brothers 24-20 on the bell with a powerful scrum, for a penalty try, and coming from behind to beat Bond University 20-15 were important steps in the second half of the season.
“We’ve definitely got better at winning those tight games this season when the story of the past few seasons had been losing tight ones,” Anderson said.
“I just want to win the premiership because I feel the team deserves it and Wests deserve it. If there has been a theme this year, it has been ‘effort’.
“Coming into finals, all four teams are going to be fit, physical and clinical at set piece. It’s going to be extra effort that can get us over the line.”
The Wests stalwart hits this semi-final in top form. In last weekend’s 27-10 win over Souths, he was winning lineouts, grabbing loose ball, throwing the last pass for a try and injecting his usual workrate.
The Bulldogs have some trumps. The arrival of former Fijian Under-20s forward Angelo Smith has added a dynamic figure at lock.
“We knew he was gifted when he arrived but he didn’t really have the detail of our lineout and so on. He’s really progressed,” Anderson said.
Another is busy hooker Ethan Dobbins, who must surely be in the sights of a professional team somewhere.
How he nails his lineout throws and marshalls a strong scrum will be how he is marked in the finals in his share role with Melbourne Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese. Dobbins’ extras are striking.
Against Souths, he was lurking on the sideline late in the game when he roped in a Mason Gordon crosskick with his left hand to score the final try.
“’Dobby’ has all the qualities to be a professional hooker. He’s good at his set piece roles and then he can pull off a pretty awesome catch like that,” Anderson said.
UQ has been cruelly hit at hooker. Reds forward Josh Nasser faces months on the sideline after sustaining a dislocated ankle and bone fracture last weekend.
The premiers will have Jock Campbell back from the Wallabies squad to play at fullback while Reds prop signing Sef Fa’agase is fit again to play 40 minutes against his old club.
“Wests do have a massive pack. We try to play a more up-tempo game. It should be an excellent game of contrasting styles,” Uni coach Mick Heenan said.
On Sunday, the action swings to Sci-Fleet Stadium at Sylvan Road where Brothers and GPS meet in the sudden-death minor semi-final.
Wallaby James O’Connor will have a frontline role for the Brethren in a side with Lawson Creighton, Hamish Stewart, Harry Hoopert and Ryan Smith on board.
“What is really positive about James’ involvement is the cool head he provides to a reasonably young group,” Brothers skipper Tom Moloney said.
“GPS are always a dangerous opponent with a physical pack and electric backs when they have the space.
“We have a win apiece in our matches this season.
“There are the makings of a fantastic finals series with the teams involved because we all have our strengths.
“It’s a good initiative to have the semi-finals played at club grounds with Ballymore out of action. It’s a chance for clubs to get an injection of funds after losing out during COVID.”
GPS stalwart Michael Richards will reach the 200-game milestone for his club when he leads the pack from the backrow.
The 5pm major semi-final in women's rugby at Ashgrove on Saturday will pit premiers Easts against close rivals GPS.
