Greater Western Sydney rising star Josh Kelly wants the Giants to be respected for their work ethic

GWS have proved they have a talented squad but rising star Josh Kelly wants the Giants to get some respect for their work rate.

Josh Kelly. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Greater Western Sydney have proved beyond doubt they have a talented squad but rising star Josh Kelly wants the Giants to get some respect for their work rate, commitment and toughness.

After the Giants belted Richmond by 88 point on Saturday, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick described GWS as “Lamborghinis”. It’s the sort of comparison Kelly is sick of hearing.

“When people say we’re just a talented team and this (success) was bound to eventuate it is motivation for us,” Kelly said.

“We’ve worked hard, we want to be a tough team and want to be known for that and our contested footy and tackling.

“To start getting the credit for that is what we’ve worked hard for. We want to be a tough hard team and we’re working on that week to week.”

Few people were drawing comparisons to expensive sports cars when Kelly arrived at the Giants in 2014 and they won just six games.

But GWS have improved rapidly. Their opponents this Saturday, the Gold Coast Suns, have had the same concessions as well as a year’s head start but are lagging well behind the Giants.

Josh Kelly wants the GWS Giants to be respected. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Kelly says the club’s present success was built in those early years when they were being thrashed but developing a winning culture.

“The whole game plan has been a work in progress since the team started,” Kelly said.

“When I first came to the club I was told it doesn’t matter if you are a first pick or a second pick you have to work hard to earn your spot in the team. That has built the culture I think.”

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Coach Leon Cameron arrived at the club the year before Kelly and says there has been plenty of steel built into the football team.

“We want to get our hands dirty,” Cameron said.

“You can’t win games unless you do, you might fluke a few and we may have last year with the talent on our list but you can’t rock up constantly and think you can fluke wins.

“We rock up for two hours of hard work. We have to continue to make sure we’re judged in the right manner which is rocking up and giving everything we have.”

Dylan Shiel may miss Greater Western Sydney’s clash with the Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

Cameron has nearly a full complement of players to pick from for the Suns clash with Jacob Hopper and Aidan Corr both returning from long term injuries this week and Rory Lobb likely to play after hurting his ankle and knee on Saturday.

“Rory Lobb trained for most of the session and felt pretty good,” Cameron said.

“I probably expect him to play. If he’s not right on Friday, if he’s five or 10 per cent off we probably won’t play him. Everything is pointing to him playing.”

The only injury worry for GWS is midfield gun Dylan Shiel who didn’t train because of general soreness.

“If he’s in any doubt (tomorrow) we probably won’t play him on Saturday,” Cameron said. “He’s been carrying a few issues over recent weeks.”

Originally published as Greater Western Sydney rising star Josh Kelly wants the Giants to be respected for their work ethic