Western Force head coach Simon Cron has offered an insight into the next steps for his side as they chase an elusive Super Rugby Pacific finals berth in 2027.
The Force made major strides in 2026, recording the side’s best-ever record under Cron (7-7), along with the side’s best finish since the 2014 campaign (seventh).
The WA Club finished four points outside of the top six in seventh, despite having the same 7-7 win-loss record as the sixth-placed ACT Brumbies, falling behind on bonus points, including three losing bonus points.
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Cron and his side aren’t satisfied at that, with the Force head coach – who penned an extension for 2027 last month – pinpointing where the improvement will come from next season.
The Force head coach said: “Continuing to work the whole time on moments in games, who we’re playing, territory and possession depending on where we are in the field. Just little things.
“They’re just things you’re always working on. The Drua game we probably kicked the ball away too much. Gave them too much ball in Fiji.
"It's not one thing. All your small habits build up to create wins. A lot of the time it can be three or four small habits.
“These guys have created some really good habits. Like you say last week, attacking breakdown was a problem for us. This week they fixed it.
"What we've got to keep doing is building the jigsaw and making sure the small habits become really indented in the group.
"When you see them winning from behind like that, you'll see the growth in them. Us as coaches need to keep targeting the things that matter the most.
"Very proud of them. What they've achieved and how hard they've worked for it, their mental focus around being able to handle big moments."
Cron called on the side to rise from good to great in 2027, having won five of the side’s final six games and six of the final eight.
“I think it’s a credit to the boys,” Cron said. “It was good, but good is the enemy of great. We’ve got to keep pushing to be great. For now, what they’ve done for the last eight weeks, I’m very proud of them.
“What they've achieved and how hard they've worked for it, their mental focus around being able to handle big moments. Massive improvement led by this guy (Jeremy Williams) and the other leaders in the team.
“it’s only the second time in the history of the club that there’s been a non-negative record. We’ve just got to keep pushing to be great.
“Little things in our game, we keep building and working on.”
The Force squad will take leave following Friday's Nathan Sharpe medal before re-convening later in the year for the 2026 Super Rugby AUS competition due to commence in September.
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