Coach remains upbeat despite loss

Another week in the Rugby League New Zealand's National Competition and another loss for the Northern Swords.
The round-six game against Heartland Premiers yesterday was a match coach Revell Neal believed his side could win before facing a formidable Auckland Premiers side next Sunday in the final round of the competition. But that was until four of his players, including skipper Anaru Thompson, did not front for the bus trip to Auckland, before flying to New Plymouth.
Two of the squad were at the NRL Grand Final which was expected, Neal said, but to have players not turn up at the last minute was very disappointing.
With only 11 players on the bus, Neal found some ring-ins at the last minute who did a great job against Heartland Premiers, playing in the side for the first time.
It was an improved performance from the Swords, and despite the 58-6 loss, their defensive effort was heartening, the coach said. The score was 18-6 at halftime, and Heartland extended their lead when fatigue set in on the Swords.
"We had some very positive words from the guys down here saying how we just need to stick with it, we will improve next year and beyond that, who knows? So that was encouraging."
It seems all the stick about the hidings they have been given, is getting to the players. Moerewa Tiger's Thompson, who chose to spend time with his partner over the weekend before she left for Australia without telling Neal, said the heavy losses were taking their toll.
"It's pretty tough playing at this level, for most of the players it is a new experience. As the weeks have passed we have been getting better - Revell is a very good coach, he knows what he's talking about and he's very committed, but the heavy losses are getting to the team - morale is low," he said.
Instead of training harder to get up to speed with the rest of the country after several years out of the national competition, player numbers at training are slowly dwindling, Neal said.
"We only had eight turn up to one training during the week ... the long trips away, injuries and everyone jumping on the bandwagon to give us stick, is crushing the boys ... but they need to see it through.
"Some of them have simply flagged it because it's a lot harder than what they thought it would be and some turn up on the weekend and don't bother training."
Despite all the negativity surrounding the Northern Swords Premiers, 17s and 15s teams, the Auckland-based experienced coach was fighting hard to stay positive about his team. There was a core group of committed and skilled players, who would, hopefully, stick with league over the next few years as the province developed representative footy again, he said.
"We obviously will start training earlier next year ... but coaches in the area need to take responsibility and start upskilling.
"We need to make changes in how we train the guys - our defence and the amount of errors in our game is what's killing us ... we need to change the mentality about the game up here, too."
Always one to look onwards and upwards, Neal's focus this week is fielding a team who will represent Northland with pride when the bottom-placed Northern Swords Premiers face frontrunners Auckland Premiers in the curtain raiser to the test match between the Kiwi Ferns and England at Toll Stadium.
- In the earlier age group matches, the Northern Swords 15s made a huge improvement on their tough 50-20 loss last weekend against Waicoa Bays Colts, to stick with the Heartland 15s for most of the game going down 38-10.
The Northern Swords 17s side struggled on the paddock against a hungrier Heartland team. "It was like they all had a late night last night - they were missing in action. It's a bit disappointing but we just need to keep making improvements every week and we need to lift for next weekend against Auckland," Swords 17s coach Herman David said.
Winger Shane Crumb stood out, working to cover tackles out wide in what was a defensive game for the Swords.