The first real pressure test of the year was passed with flying colours and with it, the demons of last season retreated somewhat.
“We were pretty well documented that we didn’t deal with that situation well last year,” Sam Gibson said of the close-fought battle against the Power.
“To have that belief this year that we can finish our games is really, really pleasing.”
16 points down early in the last quarter, North threw everything at Port to gain the upper hand. It eventually saluted by 7 points despite some nervous moments.
For Gibson, it was a true sign of how far the players have come.
“We could look in each other’s eyes at the end of the game and everyone was pretty determined, we all knew what we had to do structurally. I think we executed it pretty well.”
While the number 43 has no troubles finding the ball with his relentless gut-running, it was the willingness of his team-mates to work to contest after contest that impressed most.
“They’ve (the Power) probably been the benchmark in finishing games and in their fitness this year. We’ve had a really, really big pre-season and we are really confident that we’ve got the run in our legs to finish out games.
“It was really nice for us to prove that to ourselves.”
The Kangaroos beat Ken Hinkley’s team at their own game, running the Power ragged when it mattered most.
“There was a lot of media about how well they were finishing games and just to reinforce the fact we’ve probably trained as hard as anyone over the pre-season… just to have the confidence, if we got into a tight game that we knew we could outrun them; it was great that we could prove that.”
Gibson often slips under the radar, but his form in the past fortnight is sure to warrant respect from opposition coaches and footy fans.
With 31 disposals against the Bulldogs and 33 on Sunday, he’s fast becoming one of North’s most consistent ball-winners.
But the 27-year-old’s performance was overshadowed by a brilliant contested game by Ben Cunnington.
“Cunners really stood up with the absence of Jack (Ziebell). He’s just a contested ball beast.,” Gibson added.
“He really showed why he’s so highly rated, because he can win that contested footy and get really good, quality clearances.”
Levi Greenwood also showed why he’s so highly regarded at Arden Street.
“Levi’s a guy who’s really been biding his time trying to get into the side. He’s grabbed it with both hands.
“He was great last week and really, really good again yesterday.”
Gibson says a supposed reliance on Brent Harvey is no reason for concern.
The 35-year-old veteran again stepped up with a clutch goal in the dying minutes.
“People would say that you don’t want to rely on him (Harvey). But he’s one of our best players and every single team in the league would rely on their better players.
“While we don’t want to have an over-reliance on him, certainly when he pops up and does what he does it’s pretty good for us.”
Harvey and Gibson will be vital against Sydney this week, a side the Kangaroos haven’t beaten since 2007.
“It’s a really big challenge for us to travel and just continue on the path we have over the last few weeks and give it a red-hot go.
“It’s (the SCG) a bit smaller, a bit more contested, but I think that probably suits our big ball-winners like Cunners, and I’m sure Ziebs will be half a chance to get up, and Levi again. I think that sort of game will suit us.”
