Burleigh coach won’t use injury as excuse for Bears’ Intrust Super Cup loss to Sunshine Coast

BURLEIGH coach Jim Lenihan is not willing to use injury as an excuse for the Bears’ 36-14 loss to the Sunshine Coast, calling it a welcome wake-up call.

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BURLEIGH coach Jim Lenihan is not willing to use injury as an excuse for the Bears’ 36-14 loss to the Sunshine Coast, saying the defeat is a welcome wake-up call for the club early in the Intrust Super Cup season.

Burleigh lost Jamie Dowling (concussion), David Hala (chest) and Matt Srama (knee) to match-ending injuries, leaving them with just one reserve early in the second half of Saturday’s clash.

But Lenihan said complacency may have been a contributing factor after the unfancied Bears, who started the season with consecutive wins, squandered possession and failed to maintain control of the game when they had it.

Burleigh led 14-0 early in the match but Sunshine Coast piled on 36 unanswered points and starved the home side of possession in the second half.

“We started out okay and then just dropped off a little bit in the second 20 minutes of the first half and then the second half we just didn’t get any opportunities at all,’’ Lenihan said.

“We had one or two which we squandered and then we really struggled to get a lot of ball at all in the second half.

“We didn’t give ourselves any real opportunity to compete well in the second half, that was probably the most disappointing part.

“I don’t think we were beaten by a side we couldn’t beat, we maybe beat ourselves a little bit.’’

Although disappointed with the loss, Lenihan said the lesson would be valuable for the Bears.

“It’s probably not a bad little adjustment for us, we’ve certainly got to go and have a look at what we’re doing and rectify some things,’’ he said.

“To start the year after where we’ve been for the last few years has been a real positive, so now we’ve got to make sure we go back and (remain consistent) with our footy and preparation.

“We’ve got to make sure that when we do have control of the game that we keep it, we can’t just lose control of the game and hope to get it back, that’s not just going to happen.’’

Titans squad member Srama will have scans today on his knee injury, a suspected knock to the meniscus that officials hope has not caused major structural damage.

Tweed continued a disappointing weekend for the Coast’s Cup teams, going down 20-18 and losing halfback Michael Burgess to a suspected broken foot against the Hunters in Papua New Guinea after leading into the dying minutes.

Fullback Shannon Walker put the Seagulls back in the lead late in the match before the Hunters scored a try to equalise and had a shot at goal to win the match.

“They had the kick wide of the posts and it rebounded off one post and then the other to go through and then they led 20-18,’’ Tweed coach Aaron Zimmerle said.

“It was shattering. It was three tries all and that kick was the difference.’’

The Seagulls were on track to become just the second team in a year to win in PNG where the Hunters play in front of thousands of frenzied fans.

“We wanted to be one of the teams that can travel over to PNG and win that game,’’ Zimmerle said.

“It’s the equivalent of four competition points because no one else seems to be able to do it.

“The Pride’s done it and Easts have had a draw. They’ve won 19 out of 21 home games and with three minutes to go we were leading 18-14 and they were looking pretty nervous.’’

Originally published as Burleigh coach won’t use injury as excuse for Bears’ Intrust Super Cup loss to Sunshine Coast