Brisbane Premier Rugby grand final 2018: The winner will make history
HISTORY will be made at Ballymore this weekend, with grassroots fans set to cheer on the best Premier Rugby teams of 2018 at the home of Queensland rugby.
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THIS weekend Ballymore will host the Premier Rugby 2018 finals series, with grassroots fans set to cheer on their club sides at the home of Queensland Rugby.
Here are five things big things from grand final week and last weekend’s preliminary finals:
1.Grand final re-match for the Gallopers and Red Heavies
The Gallopers’ 52-14 win over Easts on Sunday will see GPS and University of Queensland contest the Hospital Challenge Cup for the second straight season. The boys from Yoku Road ran in eight tries against the Tigers, with scrumhalf James Tuttle setting the tone for the match with an early try in just the seventh minute. The Gallopers head into the final with arguably a more dynamic side than 2017, adding some experience and x-factor to their backline with the likes of Davis Tavita, Jaye Thompson and Albert Nikoro, all stand-outs throughout the season, while their older more experienced forward pack has had a youthful injection, with Matt Gicquel (21) and Tom Kibble (18) working as tandem fetchers in the backrow.
Both sides will be looking to make history. GPS haven’t held the Hospital Cup in 22 years, with their last premiership having been won by the likes of Daniel Herbert and Ben Tune in 1996. University on the other hand will be looking to become the first club to win back-to-back titles since the Canberra Vikings were in the competition in the early 2000s.
2. King of Yoku Road
A backrower by trade, GPS stalwart Mitch King made the move to lock for Saturday’s preliminary final, but didn’t let the transition to the tight-five hinder his game. King crossed for three tries in the Gallopers 52-14 win over Easts, showing some great skill close to the tryline, sending a message to University in the process ahead of this weekend’s grand final showdown. The Gallopers forward pack are notorious for playing an old-school physical brand of the Rugby, led by packs’ old heads – Ryan Freney, Dan Gorman and King. For this trio of forwards, Sunday’s grand final will be their third for GPS, with the teammates yet to get their hands on the Hospital Cup.
3. Brothers dominate grand final proceedings
Grassroots Rugby fans can expect a sea of blue and white to engulf Ballymore this weekend, with Brothers fielding sides in every grand final fixture bar premier grade. The club has a massive eight teams competing across second grade to sixth grade in the seniors, as well as all three colts divisions. The impressive all round performance from the club has seen them end University of Queensland’s eight-year stranglehold on the Doughty Shield, the Queensland Premier Rugby club championship. Club captain Dan Liddy, who will run out at lock in the second grade grand final against Easts, is over the moon.
“We came to the realisation that a lot of people think a winning club will be a happy club, but we remodelled that to a happy club will be a winning club,” said Liddy.
“It’s all about us getting around each other as a collective.
“We train with each other, we play with each other and we celebrate with each other. Instead of differentiating all the different grades, it’s just one entity.”
4. Epic scrumhalf battle awaits rugby fans in Grand Final
St.George Queensland Reds and Bond University Queensland Country teammates James Tuttle and Tate McDermott are set to go head-to-head this Sunday before donning the Cooktown Orchard together for Country in the National Rugby Championship. Tuttle has spent plenty of time in GPS colours this year with McDermott and Moses Sorovi passing him in the pecking order at the Reds, but this Sunday he has an opportunity to put his hand up for selection. Last weekend his game management against Easts was brilliant, while he crossed for two tries off brilliant trick line-out moves. McDermott’s energy and speed will offer a lot to University’s game-plan.
He showed against Souths in Round 18 just how dangerous he can be, and with fellow scrumhalf Scott Gale in the backline at fullback, UQ also have moves which see McDermott shift to first receiver with the intention of beating defenders one-on-one with his electric footwork. The match-up between these two exciting young halves alone is enough to get people through the gates at Ballymore.
5. Grand Final to be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports
For the first time, the 2018 Hospital Challenge Cup Final will enjoy national television coverage on FOX SPORTS channel 507 this Sunday. Fans can watch Queensland’s best club sides go head-to-head in the season decider live, in high definition and with no ad-breaks during play on FOX SPORTS. Queensland-based FOX SPORTS rugby commentator and Triple M Brisbane Presenter Greg Martin will present coverage of the final alongside local commentators Martin Lippiatt and Jay Staunton, who have been presenting the Hospital Challenge Cup coverage throughout the 2018 season.
The QRU’s production-company partner DoubleTake Sports - who have produced live-stream coverage of Queensland Premier Rugby since 2013 - will supply the broadcast to FOX SPORTS.
The QRU’s Interim CEO David Hanham said: “This announcement further complements our existing partnership with FOX SPORTS. FOX SPORTS has been replaying our Hospital Challenge Cup ‘Triple M’ Match of the Round on Wednesday evenings for the last couple of months and their decision to take the final live shows how strongly the historical rivalry of traditional club Rugby resonates with a modern TV audience.
“The code in Queensland can only benefit from this further initiative between our two organisations, which will carry Queensland Premier Rugby’s biggest game of the year into the lounge-rooms of Rugby fans across Australia.”
Originally published as Brisbane Premier Rugby grand final 2018: The winner will make history
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