Group 20 rugby league
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YENDA coach Roy Romeo is not feeling any pressure despite the growing risk his underachieving Blueheelers side could lose touch with Group 20's top five.
Ahead of Sunday's daunting away trip to face unbeaten West Wyalong, Romeo believes staying patient is the key to turning around what has been a disappointing start to the season.
"I don't think we're under pressure - we've just got to lift our performances," he said.
"The guys are putting in and trying hard on the paddock but they're just not taking that structure out on the field. For some reason it all goes out the window.
"We're sitting in the five but we can't slip too far behind the top three or we won't able to catch them.
"We've got the side there, we've just got to put it together on the field now."
Romeo admits Yenda has a huge task ahead at Ron Crowe Oval but won't give up hope that his star-studded line-up might finally kick into gear.
But once again, injuries and unavailability issues are hampering the bedding in of the team's new combinations.
Fullback Kyle Charles will miss due to an eye injury but on the plus side, hooker Tama Miratana is likely to return after overcoming a shoulder complaint.
Romeo will have his fingers crossed on Saturday that Riverina representative pair Josh Bryant and Tom Sellars get through their CRL Country Championships clash with Northern Rivers unscathed and ready to back up.
But for the Blueheelers to have any chance against West Wyalong, there's one department that must improve immediately.
"We're scoring enough points to win games but we've got to start defending up," Romeo said.
"We tackle well for the first three or four tackles but then we tend to slack off.
"If we do that against West Wyalong, they'll carve us."