JAMBEROO captain-coach Jono Dallas has demanded the Superoos improve their discipline after slipping into a must-win situation against Shellharbour.
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We’ve got to be a lot better, we gave too many penalties away.
- Jono Dallas.
Dallas was left to rue penalties conceded and crucial handling errors, in a game where the Superoos were edged out 25-24 by Warilla at Kevin Walsh Oval.
It sends them into a battle with the Sharks, last year’s grand finalists, as one of the closest seasons in Group 7 history moves into overdrive.
“To lose by one sucks,” Dallas said. “At any stage, let alone a semi, but that’s the way footy goes.
“We dropped the ball in our half too much and I don’t know what the (penalty) count was, but we got hammered.
“You can blame refs, but at the end of the day, there’s something there for them to be blowing them.
“So we’ve got to be a lot better, we gave too many penalties away.”
Scores were locked at 14-all at half-time, before Warilla looked on course for victory until Jamberoo staged a late comeback.
Warilla halfback Josh Kent snapped the winning field goal.
Dallas admitted the Superoos will have to be more defensively clinical to stop the Sharks.
“They’re very different to Warilla,” he said.
“Warilla’s an aggressive and in-your-face team, whereas Shellharbour throw a lot more decisions at you, so we’ve got to be a bit smarter defensively and probably just makes sure we lift our intensity with the ball and don’t drop it so much.”
Coach Peter Hooper admits Warilla will need every moment to recover from Sunday’s thrilling field goal victory over Jamberoo in time for the grand final qualifier with reigning premiers Gerringong.
“It was pretty physical,” Hooper said. “I’m glad we get to play next Sunday and have an extra day to recover.
“We’re just going for a swim now and then it starts for next week.”
Hooper made a major tactical decision, switching back-rower Jesse Dee into the halves to match the Jamberoo pack.
“We needed to be really physical,” he said.
“The blokes for Jamberoo in the middle have been outstanding, the Grigg boys and Joey Rokoqo.
“Our back row was outstanding again. We had Mark (Walsh) play 80 minutes and Jesse Dee had to switch to the halves, so the idea to that was going a bit more direct. It’s very pleasing to come to Jamberoo and get the win.”
Shellharbour City ended Kiama’s season with a 36-12 win in their elimination semi-final at Ron Costello Oval on Saturday.