RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cutters coach Scott Logan says his side discovered the blueprint that can take them to the NSW Cup grand final in their impressive 29-12 victory over the Warriors in their elimination semi-final on Sunday night.
After being on the wrong end of 40-point score-lines in consecutive losses going into the match, the Cutters found form at a crucial time. Five second-half tries to overwhelmed the Warriors and Sunday's preliminary final shot against Newcastle is their reward.
It was a composed performance from the Cutters who piled on the points late in the match with tries to Peter Mata'utia, Will Matthews, Charly Runciman - and a remarkable 50-metre effort from prop Shannon Wakeman - to seal the win after the score was 6-all at the break.
Logan said the Cutters always backed themselves in the back-end.
"We spoke about that during the week that the longer we stayed in the arm wrestle with their big pack the better we would be at the other end of it," Logan said.
"We were at 6-all at half-time and the completion rates were really high from both teams.
"We went 10 from 10 straight after half-time and we were really clinical and patient with what we did ... we stuck to what we wanted to do and at the back-end they couldn't go with us."
The match saw the welcome return of a number of NRL stars with Mata'utia, Matthews, Runciman and Kyle Stanley all turning in strong performances.
"Peter Mata'utia was our best go-forward guy out of our end. He had spiders on him or something - they just couldn't put him down," Logan said.
"Will Matthews came up with some really good defence, Kyle Stanley played 60-70 minutes and gave it everything so those guys that came back were really good for us.
"Charly Runciman coming back off a long injury was really good as well.
"He warmed his way into the game and finished strongly."
Logan said the Cutters will need to produce another 80-minute performance if they want to beat a Knights side which is likely to feature the likes of Akuila Uate, Timana Tahu and Clint Newton, as well as NRL sensations Chanel and Sione Mata'utia at Leichardt Oval on Sunday.
"They're a very good side and they've been building for probably half the season to this point," Logan said.
"They've got some real quality there in terms of people who've played a fair bit of first grade.
"It's about us more so and getting our game right.
"They've got some good players we'll have to watch but I'm confident we can look at our game and get things right like we did on the weekend and we'll be in the game with them."