Brothers, Swifts, Norths, Redbank Plains, Rosewood chasing glory
Minor premiers Swifts favoured to complete terrific season with grand final glory as Brothers mount three-pronged assault on titles. Check out how the teams line up.
Ipswich
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Bomber’s Blast
Anthony Breeze
THE Rugby League Ipswich season starting in April will finish on Sunday when four teams are crowned premiers in their respective grades.
Who will be victorious at the North Ipswich Reserve?
Can minor premiers Swifts complete a fabulous season or will finals specialists Brothers come out on top?
Check out the grand final form guide.
ACS GROUP A GRADE (3.30pm) - Swifts v Brothers
Swifts roared into the grand final with a great semi-final win.
Brothers had to do it the hard way with a victory over Norths then an extra-time thriller over the Jets.
Swifts have been the best team all year, only suffering one defeat building their game on power through the forwards before giving their exciting backline plenty of room to move and showcase their skills.
The punch through the middle has been a team affair with Samatou, Hille and Mulitalo doing the tough stuff before the versatile Hemopo gets his hands on the ball and keeps the drive forward going.
The plan for the Bluebirds won’t change for this game and if they win the middle battle you will see some exciting football from their backs with the likes of Okot, Vatuinaruku, Velakapa and Mato lighting up the Reserve.
Brothers also will be relying on their forwards to assert their dominance early. This must be done by Ah You, Bell and Umu who all have finals experience.
A Brothers team going forward means a very dangerous Wes Conlon will be scheming and prowling around the rucks. Watch for him to provide all the attacking options for his team.
Conlon will be calling the shots and will be giving great service to his outside men in McDonald, Fetaoai and Faliniko who will endeavour to finish the job off and cause Swifts plenty of problems.
Fullback Josh McCarroll has had a great season as well as a great finals series but he must produce one more mighty effort this weekend. If he does, that will go a long way to helping his tea lift the trophy.
Swifts have the upper hand on clashes this year winning 52-18, 40-10 before a late season 22-22 draw.
This game promises to be an exciting open game and if it comes down to goal kicking then you will see the two best in the league in Vatuinaruku and McCarroll slotting them from all over the park.
Who wins this game? I am slightly swinging the Bluebirds way after what I have seen these two teams do all season. However, it’s not a cut and dry affair as both teams have coaches in Swifts Wayne Finch and Brothers Jason Connors who have played a lot of football.
They will have their teams primed for a tough game.
Tip: Swifts.
CHAIRMANS CUP (1.45pm) Brothers v Rosewood
These teams have sat in the top two all season and it’s a fitting reward they will meet for the Chairmans Cup crown.
Brothers had the easy road to the grand final by beating Rosewood in the semi.
The Roosters had to go through sudden death last week before winning 46-6 over Goodna.
Brothers have a workaholic forward pack with a mixture of experience in Kuss, West and Picker and youth in Milham and Haviland.
If they continue to do their job and win the battle in the centre of the field, it will go a long way to them winning this clash.
While the forwards could decide this battle, it’s Brothers backs that will be the danger with plenty of speed on show with the likes of Rabbitt, Bundock, Ponton-Johnson all knowing where the tryline is.
Half Ryan Brown is no stranger to grand final day and will be the man barking the shots to his troops. Rosewood also have had a superb season and have a big forward pack and several speedy backs themselves.
However the man they will rely heavier on is Shane Gibson who has been great for them all season.
Like Brown, he is a very experienced player who has tasted A-Grade success before and will not be overawed.
Gibson will be dangerous but he must get some go-forward from his big men in Riley and John-Paul Leota otherwise they will be playing catch-up and from the back foot.
Redbank also have flair out wide, non more so then fullback Daniel West-Pes who could decide this game if he can find some gaps.
Only 14 points have separated these teams in the four clashes this season so a close affair is on the cards. This could be the closest match on grand final day with maybe a field goal to decide the winner.
Tip: Brothers
COLTS CUP (noon): Norths v Redbank
Norths blasted their way in this weekend’s grand Final with an emphatic win over opponents Redbank, defeating them 48-16.
The Bears had a thrilling win last week over a gallant Fassifern outfit.
Norths have been the pacesetters all year in the Colts grade with only two defeats for the season. They will look to complete a strong season.
They have a great attacking ray of weapons led by half Lachlan Williamson and EJ Horsey in the halves and speed and agility out wide with Sam Madden and Noah Lewis.
The Tigers have won their games this year by getting off to a good start in most games and Sunday will be no different.
TheTigers forwards will strike up the middle which will enable Williamson to guide his team around the park with crisp passing and a great kicking game.
The Bears also have a big forward pack. They will need their experienced players in captain Samson Sauaso and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki to stand up and set the platform which then will give his half in Khan Towler room to create some magic.
Redbank must also start the game fast and put some pressure back on the Tigers and show them that the three defeats they have inflicted on them this year mean nothing.
Discipline in this grade can fall by the wayside on occasions and both coaches must keep their players with a cool head on or the game could be decided by the referee who will bin players for foul player or dissent thusleaving their teams short.
Norths lead attacking and defensive figures and that’s why I am tipping them in this game.
Tip: Norths.
VOLUNTEERS CUP (10.15am) - Brothers v Redbank
The top two teams all year are meeting with Brothers progressing the easy way into the grand final by defeating the Bears in the semi.
Redbank had to back up last week and win a tough game against Brisbane Valley.
The two teams have met on three occasions this year with Brothers holding a 2-1 advantage.
The winner of this game will be the team that can hold onto the ball and gain the best field position.
Discipline will also decide the winner of this contest and whatever team settles down first, plays to the whistle and keeps their cool will give their side the best chance of victory.
Contests between these sides are always rough and tough but controlled aggression is needed.
Whoever wins the battle of the forwards might just sway the game their way.
Both teams know how to score points but defence is the critical part that wins grand finals.
Brothers have the best defence in the competition which swings me their way.
Tip: Brothers.
Quick thoughts
WINNERS: 1. The Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs who will battle it out for the AFL crowd after great wins on the weekend.
2. The Wallabies who finally got themselves into the winner’s circle with a superb victory over South Africa. Can they keep this momentum going?
3. Danil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu who both claimed their maiden Grand Slam titles with victories at the US Open.
LOSERS: 1. Port Adelaide who went into their semi clash as heavy favourites but were soundly beaten by a more hungry Bulldogs outfit.
2. Josh Dugan has all the talent in the world but has poor discipline off and cutting him a drift was the right move by Sharks.
3. Tigers coach Michael Maguire is hanging on to his job for the moment. I think he may be a dead man walking.
NRL UPWARDS: 1. The Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs who had great semi-final wins and now will have the week off before the preliminary finals.
2. The Roosters continue to defy the critics and win games with a horrible injury toll. Can they win again?
NRL DOWNWARDS: 1. The Manly Sea Eagles who after being in some great form were completely outplayed by the Storm. They must regroup or they will be out in straight sets.
2. The Panthers were tipped as grand final winners by some but now must do it the hard way by playing every week in sudden death.
Sporting birthdays September 16
1. 1942: Dennis Connor - Champion US yachtsman who has won the America’s Cup on three occasions. He was also at the helm when Australian John Bertrand outsailed him to win the Cup in 1983.
2. 1985: Neroli Meadows - Sports journalist and TV commentator who anchors three AFL shows on Foxtel. The shows include Game Day Live, AFL Today and AFL Tonight.
On this day
1. 2000: Ian Thorpe wins two gold medals at the Sydney Olympics setting two world records in the process.
2. 2020: Mark Robinson and Gerard Whateley celebrate the airing of the 2000th episode of AFL 360.
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