Rugby union
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
GRIFFITH coach Seru Rogo believes execution, not ability, is the problem for the Blacks as they look to arrest their Southern Inland slide tomorrow in Albury.
After opening the season with four wins on the trot, the Blacks have lost their past three games and are at risk of ending up on the wrong side of the ledger when the competition splits at the end of the month.
But Rogo is certain that the club's poor recent form is a product of performance, and not a true indication of its quality.
"It's all tactics," he said.
"We talk about what we have to do on the field at training, but the boys go out and do the opposite.
"As far as talent is concerned, we have a quality side - they definitely have more in them.
"It comes down to the coaches drumming these things into their ears and getting them to do the right things."
The Blacks were brimming with confidence a month ago before things went south against the Wagga Waratahs, with an early red card to Dan Rawaqa triggering a 50-12 collapse.
Griffith failed to fire the next week at home to CSU and then on Friday, crashed 13-10 to Tumut.
"We can't afford any more losses," Rogo said.
"We've got a good side but we're just not clicking, or doing things the right way.
"The boys are probably confused at some stages - that's something that we as a team and us as coaches need to work on before we run onto the field."
A road trip to Albury isn't exactly the best way for the Blacks to play themselves back into form.
The Steamers, like Griffith, have dropped three games this year but will start as warm favourites to taste victory at their home on the border.
And after rep star Dan Rawaqa suffered a grade one hamstring tear at the Brumbies Provincial Tournament over the long weekend, the Blacks will have to do it without their number one player.
"Everyone knows what Albury is," Rogo said.
"They went undefeated last year and they still have a really good side.
"They're not going to want to lose to Griffith at their home ground.
"But the boys should just be thinking about themselves this weekend, and how we're going to win this hard game."
Rawaqa's injury is expected to keep him out for up to two weeks, while Griffith's other representative players - Marika Vunibaka, Daniel Dowson, Vaea Mateo and Nick Gleeson - were restricted to light duties at training on Tuesday night, but should be fit to play tomorrow.
"We had a big, big session of fitness but they pretty much played four games on the long weekend - that's probably enough for them," Rogo said.