Group 20 rugby league
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
AS the immortal Jack Gibson would have said, it was "deja vu all over again" for the Bidgee Hurricanes against Yenda on Sunday.
In their first meeting this year at Narrandera, the Blueheelers stormed back for a one-point victory and, this time playing on their home deck at Wade Park, they came from behind to down the Hurricanes by two points, 28-26.
The visitors had been in control all day, but in the final minutes it all counted for nought.
"Add another one to the list, we know how to lose them," coach Simon Watson said.
"It was bad discipline in the last eight minutes.
"We gave away four or five penalties and they were back to back."
The Hurricanes had weight of possession all game, but as in their first encounter, an injury to a key player - this time Daniel Johnson with 20 minutes to go - appeared to be the catalyst to losing control of the game.
"They scored first, but from there on we stayed in front with three minutes to go, when they scored a try and kicked a goal," Watson said.
"We were in control.
"Then we lost our way - we kicked the ball out on the full, gave away continuous penalties.
"But it shouldn't have got to that point.
"We bombed opportunities and that's the way it rolls.
"I think because there was a fair bit of pressure on the players, they lost their way."
Watson said his players were in a state of shock after the game.
"There was disbelief in the fact we had bombed another game," he said.
"It sent a shock through us. We've done it to ourselves so many times.
"I'm dirty on it because I know we could cause grief to other sides.
"We've had the whole year to put it together and we haven't.
"There is no one to blame but me and my players."
The loss means the Hurricanes' slim finals hopes are now gone, but Watson still wants his side to have a say on the make-up of the top five.
"I want to make it hard on these blokes playing in finals," he said.
"We've got to play Hay and then the Point. We could have a bearing on finals."