Tigers know that their play-off chances rest in the arms of others but that three victories from their remaining three fixtures could see them continue their defence of the Guinness Premiership crown into the knockout stages.
“The squad mentality will be tested over the next few weeks and it’s up to the senior players to lead that,” says Goode, who made his Tigers debut almost a decade ago in October 1998.
“There’s a core group of players who have been here for quite some time. You look to guys like Cozza, myself, Geordan, Benny Kay, Chutes, guys that have been here a long, long time. We’ve played for Leicester for the majority of our careers, we know how the club works and what the Leicester ethos is all about and we’ve got to step up to the plate.
“The next three matches are all must-win games and we’ve got to go out there and die for each other, effectively. It’s an old cliché but we’ve got three cup finals to try and get us into the play offs. If we don’t achieve that, it won’t be for lack of trying but, hopefully, what we’ve done in the past will stand us in good stead.”
This afternoon’s match against Richard Hill’s side provides the perfect opportunity for Tigers to bounce back from three successive defeats, with Goode determined to get back to winning ways.
“At a big club like Leicester, you are judged on the trophies you win, so we need to redouble our efforts and give everything we’ve got over the next few weeks to try and win the Guinness Premiership. The guys are putting in just as much effort as last year and the defeats haven’t been for a lack of trying. It’s been small individual errors collectively costing the team. We now have to put everything behind us in terms of our disappointments and then press on to try and finish in the top four.”
