(Thanks to Jay Buchan and The QT)
ONE win does not make a season.
But for Ipswich Jets FOGS Cup captain Kevin Bell, last week’s victory over Wynnum was a sign of things to come.
The Jets Reserves get the chance to prove it was more than a one-off when they take on Souths Logan at Davies Park, at Brisbane’s West End, on Sunday afternoon.
With the Queensland Cup and Colts teams having the bye, the FOGS Cup squad is the only Ipswich team in action this weekend.
Apart from last weekend’s 22-6 win over Wynnum, Souths Logan is the only other team the Jets have beaten this year.
But they have suffered several narrow losses, indicating they are better than their ladder position suggests.
“We felt like we have been not far off the whole season,” five-eighth Bell said.
“We were losing games we should have won.”
That changed against Wynnum, who the Jets subsequently moved above into fourth spot.
“We played for the whole 80 minutes,” Bell said.
“That was the only difference.
“We’d been having bad patches of 10 or 15 minutes where we sort of fell off. But I think we’ve turned it around.
“Last week was a good stepping stone in learning how to win.”
It was up front where the Jets laid the groundwork which will again be required this week if they are to make it consecutive victories.
Prop Billy McConachie, in particular, impressed the skipper last weekend.
“His aggression was outstanding,” Bell said.
The skipper has no concerns his team might be complacent having beaten the last placed Magpies 24-0 when they met last month.
“We’re a pretty confident bunch,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of self-belief so it has been very disappointing up until now. But I feel now we can turn the season around.”
The 23-year-old Bell is in his second season with the Jets, having moved over from Easts.
The Brothers St Brendan’s (Rocklea) junior is enjoying his time at the Jets and holds out hopes of a chance in the top squad at some stage.
“I love it,” he said.
“It’s a good culture.
“All the boys are really good mates and it’s a tight group.
“I’d love to crack it (in the Queensland Cup).
“I’d like to think I’m pretty close. But I’d like to improve some little things.
“The one percenters, like some little decisions.
“But definitely an opportunity to crack it would be good.”
GAME DAY
Ipswich Jets FOGS Cup v Souths Logan at Davies Park, Sunday at 1.30pm.
FOGS Cup ladder: Easts 16, Norths 16, Redcliffe 12, Ipswich 8, Wynnum 8, Souths Logan 4.