Kruger praises Temora’s courage

After sweeping to an historic premiership last season, Temora made it two in as many years with a gritty 16-point win over The Rock-Yerong Creek in an entertaining grand final at Maher Oval.

While the 12.14 (86) to 11.4 (70) scoreline was the final margin, Temora was forced to battle through a few moments of adversity to retain its crown.

Temora was forced to play the opening 15 minutes of the third quarter with just 16 men following an all-in brawl after the half-time siren.

With virtually all of the players from both teams involved in the melee, the umpires handed a yellow card to two Temora players – Tim McAuley and Sam Fisher – while TRYC’s Luke Webb was given the same punishment.

The decision meant TRYC had 17 players and Temora 16 for the opening 15 minutes of the third quarter and Kruger was rapt with the performance of the Kangaroos during the testing period.

TRYC managed to kick two goals to Temora’s one in that time but the scores were level when the players returned to action and Kruger labelled the ability of the Kangaroos to hold-off the Magpies was probably the deciding factor in the premiership triumph.

“I am pretty proud of all the boys,” Kruger said.

“We didn’t have a lot of luck and we had a few things that didn’t go our way today but I am really proud with the way we were able to withstand The Rock.

“We were one man down for 15 minutes in the third quarter but we managed to hold it together and then we ran out the game well.”

Kruger’s half-time message was simple and he said Temora was confident it would have the miles in the legs to run out the game better than TRYC.

“At half-time we were really positive and we just wanted to make sure we held them up while we had a man down,” Kruger said.

“We were fairly confident that when we got level numbers, 18 on 18, that we would be able to run out the game but we needed to make sure we stayed with them.

“We managed to hold and then kick a couple of goals late in the third quarter that put us in front and then we just had to hold on.

“There is plenty of self-belief in the team.”

Temora dominated possession in the opening quarter but the Kangaroos kicked a wasteful 2.7 and only led by five points at quarter time.

Kruger admitted he was concerned Temora may have cost itself by its wayward kicking early in the game.

“I’ll be honest, I was worried about it,” Kruger said.

“One thing you don’t want in a grand final is to miss shots early – you are always worried about missing goals in grand finals.

“We blazed away a bit.”

The inaccuracy in the first quarter did not come back to haunt Temora and the team improved its conversion and finished with a respectable 12.14 from 26 scoring shots.

Tough Temora midfielder, and former coach, Dan Reid, was named as the best player on the ground and it was fitting after he missed last year’s drought-breaking premiership win as he was overseas.

“Getting Dan Reid back in the side was very important for us this year,” Kruger said.

“He has been excellent in both of our finals this year and deserved the premiership and the best-on-ground.”

Kruger was also thrilled with the performance of unheralded winger Rob Grant.

“Rob Grant has had a massive year and he played really well again today,” Kruger said.

“I do all the video reviews and he has got the most possessions for us for the year – he would average about 25 (possessions) a game.

“He has been terrific and he will finish top-two in our best-and-fairest.”

Veteran forward Scott Blackwell, who was playing in his last ever game for Temora, kicked four goals and was solid up forward all day as was Matt Harpley.

Prior to last year Temora had not won a premiership in 52 years and the club has now won two in two years since the arrival of Kruger as its coach.

However, a modest Kruger played down his role in the successes and said it was a club effort.

“I came here and put some plans in place that had worked previously but it is the playing group and the committee that deserves the full credit,” Kruger said.

“They trusted what we were trying to achieve and they have been rewarded with two premierships.”

It was a big day for Temora with its A and B grade netball teams winning while its reserve grade and C grade netball teams lost.

Kruger said Temora would be in party mode for a while following its three premierships today.

“Our A grade and B grade teams won as well which is great for the club,” Kruger said.

“Unfortunately our reserves and C grade lost but it has been an excellent season for the club as a whole.”

Kruger has already signed on to lead Temora again next season.