RUGBY LEAGUE: Just 160 minutes separates the Queanbeyan Blues from possibly claiming back-to-back premierships and centre Tom Ruediger said the team is more than confident they can get the job done.
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After the shock finals exit from the Roos after their 12-point loss to the Warriors, the Blues are left as Queanbeyan's only hope at a premiership, but Ruediger said the group had not been unnerved by the misfortunes of their cross-town rivals.
"We don't think about what's happened to them, we worry about ourselves," he said.
"We definitely look at other teams and how they've performed- West Belconnen are definitely the in-form team, they're a big threat, but we just have to worry about ourselves."
The Bulldogs will be out for blood after their 24-20 extra time grand final loss to the Blues in 2014. Ruediger admits a premiership loss can drive a team, but knows what it takes to take it all the way.
"Last year there were [Blues] that were hungry from the year before [one-point extra time grand final loss to the Roos in 2013], but the fact that we've been here before gives me good confidence," he said.
"They have a couple of players like Mick Picker that we want to put pressure on- we have to control the tempo, play our own game and stick to our areas.
"We prepared well last week, you always worry you'll be a bit rusty after a week off, but we've got back a few players that we wouldn't have got back if we didn't have the week off."
It won't be up to just a single person to carry the Blues to a major semi-final win against the Bulldogs on Sunday, August 23 at Seiffert Oval, Ruediger said it will take a team effort to get through to the grand final.
"We need to have confidence in ourselves and our teammates, we've prepared well," he said.
"Everyone wants to have a big game- if everyone plays their role we can't lose.
"We've been here before, if we stay as a unit I can't see how we can lose."