Press conference: Aidan Guerra on Round 8
Aidan Guerra acknowledged Mitchell Pearce's injury as a huge loss to the team, but stated that the Club is still in a good position for the rest of the season with Jack Cogger playing his first game of the season, Brock Lamb in Reserve Grade and Connor Watson returning from injury.
"I've played with him for a couple of years and he doesn't seem to get too many injuries," Guerra said.
"The results have come in... it looks like we will be missing him for 3 to 4 months which isn't ideal, however the side we have will be confident enough (with whoever slots in at halfback).
"Jack Cogger did a really good job on the weekend... there has been a tussle for that second halves position since Pearcey (Mitchell Pearce) arrived. To have three players to choose from for two positions, it is a good position for Browny (Nathan Brown) to be in, in what is a pretty unfortunate situation."
Having spoken to Pearce following the game on Saturday night, Guerra explained that the half was saddened by his looming long term stint on the sidelines.
"He's obviously disappointed, as he felt like we were getting somewhere as a club under his leadership.
"I think for us as a side we have got to back him up and for him to know that we are here to support him... one way we can do that is to continue to play well and try and have this Club in a good position, so when he does come back we can hopefully have a run into the finals."
Guerra stated that if the players can rally together they can still win games without Mitchell Pearce, as was shown with Shaun Kenny-Dowall's try off a Jamie Buhrer kick in the dying minutes against the Tigers.
"The fact that the side was in a position to win the game at that point is probably one of the things we will take confidence from. If we don't have that lapse at half time we are the sort of side that can win these types of games.
"If we can be switched on in defence, we won't need to win games by scoring five or six tries... and that is something that we will endeavour to do."
