Michael Hagan Post Match Media Conference - Round 25

parragirl · Michael Hagan Post Match Media Conference - Round 25

2 September 2007

Q) MICHAEL A TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCE - WHAT DO YOU PUT IT DOWN TO?
A) Well it was clear we had not played well for a couple of weeks and we needed to get things right. We were looking for some confidence today, not only in the result but in how we played, but I could not have expect that sort of result. It was a good performance for us in our last home game and gives us confidence heading into the finals.

Q) WHAT CAN YOU TAKE OUT OF THIS GAME HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK?
A) I think it will be good for us. I still think teams between 3 and 6 have a genuine chance to progress a bit further. The Warriors have done a good job to get a home final - we would have loved one and it is probably the only disappointment of the day that we were not able to do that. The closeness of the competition has meant that results have been hard to tip each week. For us to go there with a good attitude and with a bit to prove on their home track - well I think that will suit us as will a short turnaround. We seem to come off a short layoff better than most teams and we'll be ready come Friday.

Q) IS THERE ANY RISK AT ALL THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOO EASY?
A) I'm not too sure. We have had some really tough games in the last few weeks where we have to work really hard because we have not controlled the ball. It is rare that you get one of those days like today with a lot of possession and with a lot of good attacking players and skill that can turn it into points. Brisbane were on the back foot a bit too, a lot of young players and a few injured and have done well to get into the 8. They might have been feeling that they had made the 8 a bit perhaps.

Q) HOW DOES THIS RATE IN TERMS OF THE ATTACKING PERFORMANCES YOU HAVE WITNESSED AS A COACH?
A) The way in which the workload was shared and the skill across the board - it was really good to watch I have to say. It was good to send Timana and Ian out on such a great note at Parramatta Stadium. I'm sure they enjoyed it.

Q) SO IT WAS ABOUT THE BEST?
A) I think so. There was a bit of pressure on us today to finish 5th and even when we slipped behind by 10 points we were still calm and we were still good enough to get back into and win it. I still think we have some improvement in us in terms of the bread and butter stuff you need to do in order to ground out a tough win.

Q) MATEO WAS VERY GOOD?
A) He sure was. We still have a few young blokes that get a bit too excited at times - but I suppose that is the balance and blend that we have at the moment. You want to have the skill but you need the control as well.

Q) DID YOU GET CARRIED AWAY?
A) We probably did, but at the same time it is hard to blame them. Ian Hindy had a kick at goal as did Timana - I suggested to them that if they want to do that then maybe they should work with Darryl Halligan like the rest of the boys!

Q) IS FELETI BEST OFF THE BENCH?
A) I think we need to get the balance right. I thought Wags was really good in his role starting - Riddell was good as was Fui. We need to keep looking at that as we move on.

Q) HOW HARD WOULD IT HAVE BEEN FROM 7TH OR 8TH?
A) I don't think there is any secret that it is near impossible to advance any further from there. The incentive out there was pretty high today.

Q) DID YOU TELL THAT TO THE PLAYERS BEFORE THE GAME?
A) No. I felt that myself

Q) DO YOU THINK YOU GAVE THE OTHER TEAMS A SCARE?
A) I think we have a really good football team and we have as much chance as anyone to keep going and I am looking forward to Friday night.

Q) HOW TOUGH WERE YOU ON THE TEAM AFTER MONDAY?
a) I was not happy with the performance. I did not feel as happy as I do right now. We really had a look at how we did things and how we played, and we learned a few things.

Q) TIM SMITH COPPED A LOT AFTER LAST MONDAY - HE DID REALLY WELL TODAY?
A) To be fair to him he dislocated a shoulder after 3 minutes in the game against Melbourne which was a match we had to work really hard to get back into the game and he nearly got us over the line bar Eric not grounding the ball - he had to get through last weeks game to get that confidence back - make tackles and go to the line. He got a lot out of last weeks game even though we did not win and when he is confident and Finchy is confident, we have some smart operators in the team who can guide us pretty well.

Q) MICHAEL YOU ARE CONFIDENT AFTER A GAME AS HIGHLY SKILFUL AS THAT YOU CAN GET THE BALANCE WITH THE TOUGHNESS ETC BACK?
A) I hope so. We are going into a game against a very skilful and big and strong football team. We need to match that.

Q) ARE PARRAMATTA A BIT MORE UP AND DOWN IN TERMS OF ATTITUDE THAN OTHER TEAMS?
A) I'm not sure. Our attitude and effort in the past 2 weeks has not been a question - our execution sure has been. We still had blokes like Nathan Hindy making monumental amounts of tackles and keeping teams to 14 points against us, and our attitude has been good but we have not had that polish we needed to have with the footy. We enjoy playing the big teams and that for me that would suggest that, with a short turnaround that will suit us.

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