Some soul searching and heavy training sessions have the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles set to reignite their Intrust Super Premiership NSW campaign on Sunday.
The Sea Eagles sit in 10th position with three wins from nine games.
For Coach Steven Hales, last weekend's bye meant very little as his players underwent some tough training sessions ahead of their home clash with the Newcastle Knights at HE Laybutt Field, Blacktown.
Blacktown Workers go into the game keen to erase memories of a last start 44-14 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore.
"We were really disappointed with the way we fell away against Canterbury in the last 20 minutes,'' Hales said.
"The boys have spoken about putting in a strong performance again that our Blacktown supporters can be proud of.
"The week off gave us a chance to really do some hard training sessions that were not for the faint hearted.
"We really got in there and knocked each other around a little bit. We recognised that we needed to go in and do some hard work, and we have done that.
"We can't be a side that wins one week and not the next. If we want to be serious contenders in this competition, then we have to draw a line in the sand.
"And for us, that's this week. We need to go out and out in a performance that we are proud of and get those two points."
The Blacktown Workers pack will be boosted by the inclusion of former Manly NRL forward James Hasson, who has signed with the Blacktown club for the remainder of the season.
Hasson has spent the past few seasons in the English Super League and started this season with St George before leaving them for Blacktown Workers.
"James has a wealth of experience which is good for our young blokes. He has a big engine and is someone who can play many minutes,'' Hales said.
"We have a lot of part-time players in our forward pack at the moment and plenty of the boys are playing big minutes that they are not accustomed too, so James will just come in and balance it out.
"He is a smart footballer who gets himself around the field really well and has a good work-rate.
"I know James is excited to be at Blacktown Workers for the rest of the season and he has fitted into the group well. He is a real handy acquisition to our club."
The match will also mark the first starting game for talented half-back Cade Cust in what will be his second game in the Intrust Super Premiership after stepping up from the U20s competition last year.
With Cust at half-back, Joey Lussick returns to hooker to replace Manase Fainu, who is set to miss two games with a knee injury.
Round 10 Intrust Super Premiership NSW
Blacktown Workers vs Newcastle Knights
HE Laybutt Field, Blacktown
Sunday, May 13, 3pm
