NEWS

Mindset Is Key – Miami’s Nick Grigg Ahead Of DC Challenge

WRITTEN BY JOE HARVEY | PHOTOS BY LAUREN SOPOURN

Nick Grigg believes that mentality is key for the Miami Sharks as the team prepares for a Week 10 encounter with Old Glory DC.

Miami is fifth in the Eastern Conference going into the match-up, which will be broadcast live on FS2.

A win over DC could do the Florida team’s hopes of making the postseason in their debut Major League Rugby campaign.

Beaten 38-17 by the Dallas Jackals last time out, former Scotland international Grigg thinks his team need to be right mentally if they want to relaunch their playoff hopes.

“It’s a must-win,” Grigg said. “In the game over the weekend, Dallas came, and they wanted it more than us. 

“We ended up getting beaten quite badly, which was a frustrating turnaround from a good win the game before. 

“This week, we need to have that mindset. Mindset is key for that. 

“We are drilling it in that it is a must-win game for us, so everything is on the line, and we have got to get up for it mentally. 

“I feel like when we do that, we play some excellent rugby. Hopefully, we can do that on Saturday.”

BRINGING EXPERIENCE TO MIAMI

Grigg arrived at Miami as one of the team’s most experienced campaigners. 

After spending six years with United Rugby Championship side Glasgow Warriors, during which time he represented Scotland thanks to his ancestry, the center also had spells in Japan, France, and his native New Zealand before coming Stateside.

“It was a place I hadn’t been before,” Grigg said of his move. “I did the UK stint, Japan stint, and France stint; then I was playing back home in New Zealand with Hawke’s Bay, which was probably one of the most enjoyable seasons I have had. 

“It is not every day you get the opportunity to live somewhere as cool as Miami, and I also got to experience the American rugby side of things and travel the US.”

Last year with Hawke’s Bay, Grigg went all the way to the Bunnings NPC Final.

Playing alongside Utah Warriors full-back Caleb Makene and ex-New England Free Jacks prop Joel Hintz, the Magpies lost out to Taranaki 22-19 at the final hurdle.

It is a campaign that stands out in the memory of Grigg, who set himself up for his move to Miami by playing some of his best rugby. 

“When you are playing for Scotland and stuff, there is a lot of pressure to perform,” Grigg explained. 

“You did have pressure to perform in the NPC, but I had more enjoyment because I could enjoy myself. 

“Internationally, to be honest, I was nervous days before games. 

“It is only natural, but that gut feeling you get with nerves before games is not very enjoyable. 

“When I was playing back home, I had that but not as much, and it made rugby more enjoyable.

SHARKS WEEK?

Beating Old Glory DC this weekend would greatly aid the Sharks’ hopes of making the playoffs. 

Four points behind the team that will host them at the Maryland Soccerplex this weekend, a bonus point victory would catapult Miami among the East’s top four teams.

Current champions New England, Chicago Hounds, and NOLA Gold lead the race to play postseason rugby, making for an extremely intriguing encounter this weekend.

Taking part in their inaugural season, Miami’s growing competitiveness is a testament to the good team culture that has been curated by José Pellicena in Florida.

Growing game on game, just what the Floridians are capable of can be seen when watching back their victories against NOLA Gold and Anthem RC.

The @miasharksrugby showed their offensive class in Louisiana, picking up their second ever MLR victory with a bonus point over @nolagoldrugby!

Check out the highlights.

📺 @therugbynetwork | #NOLAvMIA | #MLR2024 pic.twitter.com/HGIxy3KXBC

— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) April 20, 2024

Wanting to see more of that dynamic style of play and win rugby, the 31-year-old sees the path to further success as simple.

“It is just practice,” Grigg said. “Everyone is new, systems are new, you just have to keep practicing them. 

“We have meetings every week, as every other team does, and you analyze what you need to do and what you need to improve on. 

“We get it right most of the time; we are improving slowly. You have just got to keep practicing and put it out on the field really.

“Within three or four weeks, everyone was really good mates, and the language barrier isn’t there.

“It is quite cool how fast everyone has become mates here. It feels like we have been here much longer than we have because we got on so well.”