AN opening round win over one of the premiership heavyweights wouldn't normally earn a side a "rocket" from their coach.
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However, it's precisely what Thirroul copped from Jarrod Costello three days after their tense two-point victory over Collegians a fortnight ago.
The win at Gibson Park came after the Butchers trailed 12-4 at halftime and 18-16 with six minutes left before a late try to Callum Tutauha snatched a late win.
Prop Damian Sironen said Costello didn't mince words in the review of their lacklustre first 40 minutes in particular.
"There was plenty to look at," Sironen said.
"I think the way we performed was a fair bit below the standards we've set for ourselves. We completed pretty poorly, we gave a lot of bad penalties away.
"They really blew us off the park in the first half in terms of their physicality in the first half. We should've known that was coming because we got that in the Challenge Cup final as well.
"It took us 40 minutes to go 'hey we've got to aim up here'. Luckily there were a couple of outstanding individual performances that were the difference for us.
"We got a bit of a rocket at training and we'll be looking to turn things around this week."
It won't be the last time traveling sides look to pull am ambush on last season's grand finalists, who've only bolstered their roster this season.
Sironen and star back-rower Jay Gallagher are permanent fixtures at Gibson Park after splitting their time between the Butchers and NSW Cup the past two seasons.
They're not the only big additions, meaning the Butchers won't be able to lean on the underdog status on which they've built countless successful campaigns on previous seasons.
Being one of the hunted sides is a new feeling, but one Sironen has urged has side to embrace.
"It's a great club, I've really enjoyed being here [fulltime] this season," Sironen said.
"It's enjoyable to be mixing with the whole club as well, we're training with reserve grade and the 18s as well. It's a really good crew and I'm enjoying it.
"We're different position to last year. We've recruited pretty well in the off-season and basically the whole grand final side bar one or two guys is still there.
"There's a another four or five guys there who are putting their hand up but we're relishing being the side teams are chasing down and we're looking forward to that challenge."
Having had the bye to stew on their last-up effort, The Butchers will head to Ziems Park to take on competition leaders Corrimal on Saturday.
It's never been an easy trip for Thirroul, regardless of ladder positions, something Costello has certainly reminded his troops of this week.
"He's given us a fair warning that this week is a real challenge," Sironen said.
"They've been playing great footy and they're coming first for a reason. They've recruited really well, they've got some handy centres and a decent pack.
"They're looking to say 'we're not just beating the lower sides, we're here to mix it with everyone' so we're going to have to be up for it.
"If we dish up the completion rate or penalties that we did against Collies we could be in for a rude shock."
Elsewhere in the league, win-less Berkeley face the daunting task of hosting Wests while Collegians will also play host to Dapto.
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
