A RETURN to form has seen the Bilambil Jets on the cusp of locking in a top three finish in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League competition.<\/p>\n
The Jets started the year well before four straight losses in the middle of the season.<\/p>\n
They turned it around a fortnight ago when they broke the nine-game winning streak of second placed Marist Brothers with an impressive 28-10 victory.<\/p>\n
Bilambil are the only team to defeat Brothers twice this season and have plenty of experience with half of their side part of the club’s 2022 premiership-winning team.<\/p>\n
“We struggled for a month or so, but I was never worried that we didn’t have the ability,” player-coach Hayden Hansen said.<\/p>\n
“We had to go away to have a bit of a look at ourselves and work out how we could play better as a team.<\/p>\n
“I think part of our problem was we were spending a lot of time coming out of our end and we were leaking points when we got a bit tired.”<\/p>\n
Hansen said brothers Alex and Harry Fitzhugh are taking ownership of the team in the halves.<\/p>\n
Winger Blake Graham is the equal top try-scorer in the competition with centres Lachlan Hallard and Caleb Nicholls also contributing to the scoreboard.<\/p>\n
Graham has scored 15 tries while winger Preston Smallwood is starting to make a name for himself with his try-scoring ability.<\/p>\n
“Our outside backs have a lot of skill and if we get them close to the line the points will come,” Hansen said.<\/p>\n
“I’ve played with some of the younger guys for about five years now and to see them taking charge and leading the way is pretty special.<\/p>\n
“They’re coming into the prime stage of their career after turning 25, while a few of us boys over 30 are nearing the end.<\/p>\n
“I try not to get too far ahead of myself as a coach, but we’re certainly aware of the position we’re in and we’re aiming for a big finish.”<\/p>\n
Bilambil will have home games for the next two rounds when they take on the Casino Cougars on Sunday, August 16.<\/p>\n
The final competition will be Old Boys Day against the Evans Head Bombers on Saturday, August 23.<\/p>\n