It’s clear last season’s premiership bridesmaid is hungry — there is a palpable sense of desire whenever the side takes to the park looking to make amends for a grand final loss which likely still stings nine months on.
Waaia heads back to the hangar gearing up for the challenge of Katandra, the latest outfit to fall victim to dark horse Tatura.
“They’ve got some good players; their form maybe has been a bit hit or miss but we will be very cautious heading into Saturday,” Waaia skipper Brayden Carey said.
“We back ourselves going into every match, but in saying that we know Katandra have the capability to take the game away from us.
“The lesson we’ve learned since coming across from the Murray Valley comp is every single team in this league has a couple of players who can beat you.”
Katandra’s perennial run-generator Jedd Wright was one that Carey singled out after he belted 55 at Howley Oval; Hadleigh Sirett another following his Princess Park heroics.
As for his own side, Carey stated Waaia’s rigid bowling performance to curb Nagambie’s scoring efforts was a massive takeaway from round six.
“We take confidence in the fact we can restrict a side,” Carey said.
“The pitch didn’t play super well which probably helped the bowlers, but we’ve backed our bowling line-up going into each game over the past couple of years.”
Waaia and Central Park-St Brendan’s remain the two unconquered entities of the 2021-22 Haisman Shield campaign.
But with just three completed games beneath the Bombers’ belt, Carey isn’t yet ready to let the reputation precede his side.
“Central Park and Northerners have been going well and I think they are the benchmark; after we’ve all played a few more games it will give a better idea of where everyone is at,” he said.
“For us, winning form is good form so we’ll just try and keep beating who is in front of us each week.”
