Altona Roosters used their new ground at Bruce Comben Reserve on Saturday, but it hardly felt like home for the first 80 minutes.
The Roosters were a tad off colour in a 30-27 loss to North West Wolves in the Victorian Rugby League, much to the displeasure of coach Jason Warr.
“They out-enthused us and that’s all it was,” Warr said. “They got a bit of a roll on and went on with it. We got out-enthused totally across the paddock.”
Roosters five-eighth Tristan Sami kicked a field goal to put his side in front with seven minutes to go.
Unsurprisingly to Warr, his team couldn’t hold on in the dying minutes, with the Wolves finding a decisive try.
“We just didn’t get ourselves in the arm wrestle,” he said. “We couldn’t hold them out.”
Despite winning the opening two matches of the season, Altona went into Saturday’s game flat, and it carried through to the final whistle.
Warr is hellbent on getting to the bottom of why his side could not deliver. “It’s something we’re going to have to look at in training and preparation for our games.
“That was our first game out at Altona Meadows and it would’ve been good to have a win for our first one.
“We learnt a few things about ourselves. There will be a lot of hard work done on Tuesday and Thursday nights.”
Caine Sinclair was one of the few positives for the Roosters.
The hooker is one of his side’s most consistent performers.
“He’s always good,” Warr said. “He’s a leader on the field, which is what you need. He’s been at the club since he was a kid, so he’s come right through the grades.”
Warr was pleased with the efforts of his centres, Jonathan Toetu and Apuanea Vaka.
“Their defence was really good and they just ran hard at the lines all day,” Warr said.
“They impacted really well – every time they were on the ball they made metres.”
The Roosters will reload for their trip to Sunbury Tigers on Saturday.
