Chase Hoare does his best work in the middle of a crisis.
As soon as the Werribee Bears captain senses the slightest bit of dissension in the ranks, the 28-year-old gets to work.
“A captain needs to be there when the boys are down,” Hoare told Star Weekly.
“If we’re having a hard time against an opposition, it’s my job to be able to lead the team in the right direction.
“You get some players who will argue after an opposition try, but that’s common in every football game.
“It’s my job to keep everyone level, bring everyone back down to earth and start over again.”
Hoare is a well-respected Bears stalwart. The Tarneit resident arrived at the NRL Victoria first-grade club in 2010, two years after it was founded.
To be given the honour of captaining the Bears, as part of a leadership group that includes player-coach Phil Pese, Josh Makiri and Mokonuiarangi Marr, is something Hoare holds close to his heart.
“Every week leading the boys is a big privilege,” he said.
“It’s not just getting a ‘C’ next to your name … you have to be a leader in order to get the captaincy and you have to be there vocally and encourage everyone.”
Hoare has been Werribee’s Mr Fix It this season.
He’s more of a defensive centre who offers water-tight coverage if an opposition attacker slips through the net.
“I think I’ve been better off the ball this season, covering from left to right,” he said.
Werribee has made a flying start with a 6-1 record.
The Bears underlined the gulf between the best and worst in first grade with an 84-0 whitewash of South Eastern Titans in their last start.
That win moved them to the top of the ladder, not that process-oriented Hoare took much notice.
While a premiership is the aim, the captain is wary of letting his team become overwhelmed by a flag obsession.
“We’re just trying to get everything right week by week and, come finals time, if we’re there we’re there, and if we’re not we’re not,” he said.
There is no talk at Werribee about redemption for last year’s grand final loss; that’s far from Hoare’s mind.
“That’s in the past,” he said. “We worked with what we had and it wasn’t our time.
“This is another year. That was last year and there’s no use living in the past.”
Werribee will host finals contenders North West Wolves in a big clash at Haines Drive Reserve on Saturday.
