Having featured in the past three grand finals and entering the season as the two-time defending premiers, Werribee Bears have got a target on their backs and all other teams want to bring them down.
The Bears answer to that is to continue raising the bar, take no short cuts in their preparation or no half measure in any games.
It is the reason why the Bears are still No. 1, holding a 6-0 record and again the team to beat in 2018.
“Every team plays their best game against us,” Bears co-coach Josh Makiri said.
“We train hard for it, we’re fitter and we worked hard for each other. We play for one another, our boys.”
Werribee has been put under the pump in each of its past two matches. The Bears trailed at half-time against Casey Warriors two weeks ago and came back to win convincingly and trailed again at half-time on Saturday against fellow western suburbs outfit Altona Roosters and came back to register a victory.
Not only did the Bears run down the Roosters after staring at a 14-10 half-time deficit at Haines Drive Reserve, they romped home for a 34-18 win over a big rival.
“We just feel like our fitness gets us through,” Makiri said. “We play for 80 minutes, we don’t play for 50 or 60. Teams can’t play for 60 minutes against us.”
It was a satisfying victory for Werribee over Altona. The two sides have fiercely locked horns from the day the Bears arrived as an expansion club.
“It’s always a tough occasion playing against the Altona Roosters,” Makiri said. “They always bring their best.
“It has been a rivalry for the past few years.”
Frank Vaaua was damaging for Werribee in the second row.
Vaaua ran hard on offence and produced some stinging tackles in defence.
Phil Pese’s calmness under pressure in the half-back role was telling.
Being a former Bears player-coach, Pese just knows how to direct the team around the park and finds chinks in the opposition armour that others cannot see.
Kuros Metuariki continues to shine. The young full-back will keep staking his claims for games in the Melbourne Storm under 20 team.
“He’s playing well for us, he’s our kicker and a try scorer,” Makiri said. “He has the ability to get us back into good territory, his runs out of dummy half have been real good and his return of the football has been real strong.
“For a young kid, he puts his body on the line as well.”
Werribee faces bottom side Waverley Panthers at Fregon Reserve on Saturday.
