Lions co-captain Harris Andrews admits Brisbane gamers are on “edge” however isn’t blaming the heartbreak of final 12 months’s grand ultimate loss for his facet’s poor begin to the season.
Heading into Sunday evening’s QClash in opposition to the Gold Coast Suns on the Gabba, the Lions have misplaced 5 from seven this season and are determined to keep away from a 3rd straight defeat.
Final Thursday’s 54-point loss to the Giants in Canberra was Brisbane’s worst efficiency of the season and has made it extraordinarily troublesome for the Lions to safe a top-four berth.
Andrews mentioned the Lions recognized an absence of “effort” and “depth” because the Giants ran riot within the second half and admitted he and his teammates have been nervous about coach Chris Fagan wielding the choice axe this week.
“There’ll be loads of blokes that put their hand up and say they didn’t play as much as the usual that they’ve set during the last couple of years,” he mentioned.
“I’m certain there’d be just a few boys, myself included, who (aren’t) sitting round proud of themselves and feeling comfy.
“Everybody’s on edge trying to get higher. Gamers aren’t taking liberties and never simply assuming that they’re within the workforce every week.
“Guys are attending to work and, and sure, their type won’t essentially be nearly as good because it needs to be, however we’re definitely not sitting round proud of ourselves.”
Andrews was not searching for excuses for Brisbane’s poor type and was adamant it had nothing to do with the robust process of overcoming the devastation of shedding final season’s grand ultimate by simply 4 factors to Collingwood.
“In the event you’re wanting prior to now, you’re going nowhere,” he mentioned.
“We did a extremely good job on the finish of final 12 months … figuring out what we wanted to get higher at, and I don’t suppose that (grand ultimate loss) is a matter in any respect.
“Guys aren’t taking part in essentially as much as the usual they wish to be each week in the mean time.
“We’re wanting ahead to transferring ahead and positively not reflecting on the previous. We’ll simply management what we management, and that’s include an excellent angle.
“We’d like to be taking part in extra constantly, taking part in 4 quarters each single week, however you play on this competitors, which is actually robust.
“We’ve had fairly a troublesome draw early on, performed plenty of the highest groups, performed these huge video games in opposition to groups just like the Giants, and in the event you’re simply off, they actually make you pay.”
The Lions will even on Sunday be chasing their first residence win of this season.
After an ideal residence report final 12 months, Brisbane is zero from three in matches on the Gabba in 2024.
“We’re simply excited to get again out on to the Gabba and attempt to make an announcement,” Andrews mentioned.
