AUSSIE charger Ben Cook insisted it was time for Pirates to “knuckle down” as they get set for the business end of the SGB Championship season.

The Dorset club are currently second in the league standings behind leaders Leicester, with the top two teams automatically qualifying for the play-off semi-finals.

Cook is set to drop to reserve for Poole this month with the league’s refreshed averages – ahead of away trips to Edinburgh and Berwick next week.

Asked what he was going to do with a short break, after Wednesday’s 49-41 home win over Berwick, Cook said: “I’ve had enough time off. I have been doing one (meeting) a week at the moment, so I’m not looking for time off. I am looking to get on the bike!

“We have got to really knuckle down now, get some away points and climb that ladder again.

“I feel like we all haven’t struck as a team yet, but we are getting closer.”

Pirates are the defending champions, having secured a league and Knockout Cup double in the division in 2021.