THE Yenda Blueheelers have stormed into the Group 20 grand final on the back of a near-perfect second half, which left the minor premiers Waratahs embarrassed to the tune of 48 points yesterday at Exies Oval.
Reigning premiers Yenda shortened significantly in the betting to win back-to-back titles after leaving the toothless Tigers in their wake with 40 unanswered points coming in the second stanza.
Yenda captain-coach Andrew Lavaka said his side was keen to show they are hungry for another title, and said his team's performance yesterday was the perfect way to cap off their increasingly potent form in recent weeks.
"Look, it was a very tough game in the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes," Lavaka said.
"But when we came out for the second half we talked about what we did right in the first half and we came out and went on with the job.
"Everyone was pumped after coming out after the break and we wanted to show we were still hungry and really wanted to win the game.
"They (Waratahs) came out and showed they wanted the game in the first five minutes but then our boys lifted a gear and we said to ourselves that we were really in a game here and we wanted to be hungrier than them."
Waratahs captain-coach Kodie Charles was scathing in his assessment of his team's performance, questioning whether they really wanted to play in the grand final, and labelling their performance yesterday as at times "cocky".
"There were some good things that we could take out of the game, but that second half, I don't think there was anything good to come out of it. The first half we could work with, but the second you can throw it out the window," Charles said.
"I think guys got cocky. In the first 10 minutes they belted Yenda and they went missing for a bit and we scored a couple of tries and went to sleep.
"And in the second half I think they must've thought they were going to go out and do it again, but it just didn't work.
"It's definately a big wake-up call, but our attitude needs to change.
"The boys, when they come to training, some of them dawdle around, some of
them turn up switched-on, but some of them sook around a bit, but they all have to realise that this is semi-final football, and if they don't want to be here playing in semi-final fotball then they might as well piss off."
The early going had all the hallmarks of a major semi-final clash with some massive hits by both packs that looked to establish their dominance, and an excellent offload by Josh Charles to Graham levu gave the Tigers the lead 10-8.
But it would be the last time the home side would be out in front, as Lavaka scored the first of his double after his side recieved a penatly when Ben Jeffery and David Rauluni exchanged blows.
Narrowly leading 16-8 Lavak urged his men to go on with the job but the tone for the Tigers was set from the restart with the ball being allowed to bounce dead.
"All we spoke up about in the sheds was that we had to thighten up around the ruck area and make sue the markers were working hard," Charles said/
"That and trying to to hld them down in the tackle and not give away penatlies, but it seemed to go in one ear and out the other, blokes just didn't listen."
Yenda scored from the drop out and crossed another three times in the next 10 minutes to blow the game open at 32-8.
The Tigers only ventured inside the Yenda 20m area three times in the second half as the Bluheelers contined to run riot, seemingly scoring at will, with a double to Chris Richards sealing the win.
Yenda only has two minor injury concerns with Villiam Ngu (corked elbow) and Chris Richards (hand) feeling the affects of the bruising game.
Waratahs only have one week to lick their wounds, but yesterday's thrashing was compunded by possible serious injuries to Kodie Chalres (knee) and Jeffery (possible facial fracture).
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