To the players;
As a team you all have bled, sweated and picked yourselves up off the ground all season. Nothing changes. This will continue because it’s what you do. It’s what you do for your brothers. You will pick your brother up off the ground after they have put their body on the line and do so yourself to show that you too, are willing to make this sacrifice for the team, the jersey, the club and your brothers.
You will encourage your team mates at all times, after a big hit, after a big run, or a mistake. You will remain disciplined at all times because you know that as players with self-belief together you can overcome anything.
But most of all, to prove to yourselves, as individuals, as players, as team mates, as brothers, that you believe in the man beside you that he will not let you down. That he will fight for you, die for you in battle. As you look into each other's eyes before you take the field, promise yourself, promise each other you will leave nothing, nothing in the tank. You will make the tackle, that needs to be made, you will take the hit up that needs to be taken, you will dive for a ball with total desparation with will exert every ounce of energy to ensure that you have given your all for your mate and for the jersey.
Believe that you as a team will outlast, out think, out discipline and outperform those that wish to deny you what is rightfully yours. As a team you will do all this and no matter what, as a side, as a group of men, you will hold our heads up high knowing that completely, exhausted, spent and proud, you will give it everything.
You do this not for the glory, but because it is the men you are, the players you are and you do it for your brothers that stand beside you in that line to let them know they are not alone & you will not let them down. You will not let yourself down.
Injuries, Illness, misfortune, battling mental demons. Everything has gone against you as a playing group. The critics, the media, the bookies, the experts have all written you off. Your season is finished as far as they're concerned. You are next to no chance of defeating Canberra this week nor progressing further in this competition according to them. The doubters, the knockers have all resurfaced and are kicking you whilst you are down.
But this adversity, this challenge, this mountain of apparent impossible that stands before you all could propell you to greatness. Your backs are against the waal. All the odds are against you. No one gives you a hope, a chance in hell of victory. This is the time, this is the place, this is the very opportunity to prove the knockers, the experts, the critics wrong.
In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.
Good luck Wests Tigers. We Believe In You. _"The best way to predict the future is to create it"_
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Kind Regards,
Gobbs
