Sea Eagles Coach Trent Barrett admits it has taken longer for the new combinations within the team to click, but he won’t be changing the way the side prepares.
The most focus has been on the new halves pairing of former Souths centre Dylan Walker combining with established half-back Daly Cherry-Evans.
“To have a new hooker, a new full-back, and a new halves combination, we were probably a little bit naive thinking it was going to click straight away,’’ Barrett said today.
“There is a lot that goes into our halves playing well. A lot has to happen around them for them to play well. The better Cherry goes, the better Dylan is going to go.
“The more stability we have got in the team with our other combinations, the better they are going to go. Brett Stewart will certainly help our halves as well.
“The players are working hard. I’m not going to throw all the preparation away just because we have lost two games.
“There are some good signs there. We just need to put in an 80 minute performance together on Monday.”
Barrett said outside pressures were not affecting the players as they search for their first win when the Sea Eagles tackle the in-form Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Brookvale Oval this Monday night.
“I do have confidence in the players. They are preparing really well and their attitude is good. That is all you can ask,’’ Barrett said.
“They are hurting, they are feeling it as much as anyone. They are very disappointed we haven’t won those (first) two games. We are coming into round three and if we can win this one, we will be on equal points as the Sharks. That’s the goal.
“The players have belief in what there doing, and what we are doing. We can’t waiver from that. Any outside influences, remarks, or media reports, are not going to help us in here. We are going to have to be really solid, stick together, and keep working hard.
“We are confident as a coaching staff that we are doing the right thing with them. It has taken a little bit longer than we thought.
“We probably have been our own worst enemies in the first two rounds. The game against the Tigers, at 16-all, it was there to be won but we couldn’t quite come up with the play to win it. They skipped away on us at the back end.
“I’m confident a win is not too far away.”
Match Day Times for Sharks game
Gates open: 4.40pm
Holden Cup Kick-off: 4.45pm
NRL Kick-off: 7pm.
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