It was not the result but the improvement that NYC coach Eric Smith was most pleased with following his side’s 32-16 loss to Gold Coast Titans on Saturday.
The Thunderbolts conceded seven tries to four, coming up just short in their first trial match of the pre-season.
Local Sunshine Coast talent Josh Kerr was amongst the standout performers alongside Lachlan Timm and Jacob Elmore.
Despite the result, the coaching staff was pleased the steps taken over pre-season were starting to pay dividends.
“We were able to see improvements and see that all the little areas that we were working on during the pre-season that we were able to put into practice,” Smith said.
“In patches we were able to put in (the new structures) really well, we were probably just a little bit inconsistent which is what you would expect at this time of the year.
“Obviously it was a first time hit out, we are just going to be looking over the next couple of weeks now to doing the things we’ve been working on for bigger periods during the match instead of those 5-10 periods like on the weekend.”
This coming weekend will be a momentous occasion for the Club as the Thunderbolts play their first game on the Sunshine Coast.
On Saturday the NYC team will play a three-way trial at 2.30pm against Easts Tigers and the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
The game will be a curtain raiser to Storm’s trial match against Wests Tigers at 5.15pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
It shapes as a full day of rugby league action and the Club’s NYC players cannot wait to get stuck into it.
“The boys are really excited to be in and around those (NRL) guys and hopefully pick up some bits and pieces off the NRL group whether it be on the field or the way the guys carry themselves around the Club,” Smith said.
“We know how disciplined and how well the NRL guys carry themselves around the Club so the guys are really looking forward to that.
“We might even get a chance to have a run alongside them in the captain’s run on Friday which would be even better for the boys.”
