High-flying Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles wary of Warilla-Lake South Gorillas' resurgence

In year two of the Ian Jones/Steve Johnson era, the Park have vaulted themselves into premiership contention with consecutive wins against Shellharbour, Gerringong and Kiama.

While the Eagles are presently reaping the rewards in the field, skipper Josh Sainsbury believes it his side's commitment, during the off-season and weekly training sessions, that have been the key to their success.

"The training we have done this year during the pre-season and recent weeks is the main difference to previous campaigns," Sainsbury said.

"We are constantly pushing ourselves and each other to the point where we are able to perform for that full 80-minute period in a game without having that usual lapse, which crept into our game in recent years."

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Many pundits will point to the additions of Donte Efaraimo, Paul Roberts and former New Zealand international Chase Stanley, but Sainsbury believes the winning foundations were laid in the shortened 2020 season.

"It's well documented we have gained a lot of new players to the side who have moved down from different areas and come from different teams," the lock forward said.

"But a lot of our group were here last season but we didn't get the chance to click as well as we would have liked because COVID-19 threw a spanner in the works.

"We showed we can perform when we had a full pre-season, after taking out the Wests Nines tournament last year.

"We're starting to see the results of everyone gelling as a team."

From a personal perspective, the two-time club player of the year is happy with his form thus far, especially if it can lead to more wins this season.

"I'm just trying to concentrate on doing my part for the team which is just going forward trying to get us on the front foot and making tackles," the 25-year-old said.

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"Sometimes it's nice to be able to take a step back as a forward in the team and watch blokes like [Sam] Cluney take control of the game and do their thing.

"It takes a lot of pressure off the forward pack when you have so much strike out wide, that even when coming out of our own end they look dangerous."

While the Eagles are sitting pretty in equal second after seven rounds, with a 4-1 record, Sainsbury admits there is still a long way to go if the club is going to end their nine-year finals drought.

"This is definitely the strongest Park side in a long time," Sainsbury, whose side are chasing their fourth straight win for the first time since 2012, said.

"There is a lot of winning experience coming from all over the field and I feel our 1 to 17 can all get the job done for us.

"Every week we are getting better and there's still a lot of work to be done - I can't wait to see how we go up against the top of the competition."

Sainsbury won't have to wait long for that challenge, as the Eagles, fresh off a bye, travel to Cec Glenholmes Oval on Sunday to face last year's grand finalists Warilla-Lake South.

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"If we can start strong early, it's our game to lose," Sainsbury, who singled out the strong play of Rodney Coates and Sam Clune as key factors to this season's success, said.

"It will definitely be a massive arm-wrestle in the early stages but I know our forward pack are up to the challenge and will get us on the front foot, so our dangerous outside backs can put some points on the board.

"A win this weekend really sets us up well for the back half of the season.

"I personally think this will be the toughest game of the year.

"Warilla and Albion Park have had a rivalry for a long time and whenever you head there, you always know it's going to be a tough game.

"If we can get over them this weekend, the side will take a lot of confidence going forward."

As high-flying as the Eagles are, Sunday's rivals the Gorillas are struggling to find any consistency with their play - highlighted by their disappointing loss to Jamberoo last round.

Some of that can be attributed to injuries to key players such as Blair Grant and Justin Jones, as well as new combinations.

One of those combinations in new halves pairing Cam Vazzoler and Jake Brisbane, who will play just their third game together in the yellow and blue on Sunday.

"It feels good to get back onto the field after a long lay-off," Brisbane said.

"Obviously we're not travelling as well as we would like at the moment but we're putting in the work each week and know that form reversal is just around the corner.

"As disappointing as last week was, it just wasn't our game and we've learnt a lot from it."

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Sunday's fixture will also pit Brisbane against his junior club Albion Park.

As much as he'd like to get one over his former side, he said he and the Gorillas are just concentrating on returning to the winner's circle.

"At the moment, we just need to start chalking up some wins, regardless of the opponent," the five-eighth said.

"We can't afford to be playing catch-up, come the back end of the season.

"We know they're [the Eagles] are playing well at the moment but I'm confident if we do the one per-centres right on Sunday, we can get the two points.

"As a team, we're close to the mark and a win on Sunday would be a massive confidence boost for us all."

This round eight match kicks off 3pm on Sunday, as do both the Milton-Ulladulla and Gerringong and Stingrays and Kiama fixtures.

Saturday's match between Jamberoo and Nowra-Bomaderry at Kevin Walsh Oval has been postponed because of COVID-19 concerns.

Shellharbour has the bye in round eight.

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