Reigning NTFL premier under pressure to stay in the 2019-20 premiership race after semi loss

THE pressure is mounting on reigning NTFL premier Nightcliff to stay in this season’s finals race

Southern Districts coach Shannon Rusca says all the pressure is on reigning premier Nightcliff in this week’s NTFL preliminary final.

THE pressure is mounting on reigning NTFL premier Nightcliff to stay in this season’s finals race.

A preliminary final loss to Southern Districts on Saturday night will mean a straight sets exit for the side that dominated the home and away season.

“They’ve got all the pressure on them,’’ Districts coach Rusca told the NT News.

“They’re last season’s premiers and they’ve been the top side all year.

“Now they’ve dropped their first final, so there’s no pressure on us, it’s all fallen squarely in their lap and they’re feeling it.

“It’s why we’re looking forward to testing them out with all we’ve got..’’

Rusca’s Crocodiles are on the back of a five-game winning streak coming into Saturday night’s cutthroat preliminary final.

The Districts side that lost four games in a row from Round 12 to 15, has regained its mojo.

Back-to-back finals wins has them on a Tiger hunt.

“We’ve got no one else to blame but ourselves for where we finished on the ladder,’’ Rusca said.

“Now, our handball game is pretty elite and we are playing with some real confidence at the moment.

“Talent never leaves you, but form ebbs and flows, so we knew it was a matter of time before we got back to playing our brand of footy.

“Damian Williams, Brandon Rusca, Dylan Barry and Matt Duffy all missed the semi-final and are keen to get back in the side.’’

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