Brad Tronc’s University score home final in Sunshine Coast Rugby Union

University Barbarians have advanced to its second Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final in three years, this time armed with home ground advantage and a seven-game winning streak.

Brad Tronc’s USC Barbarians have advanced to the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final after a hard fought win over Noosa Dolphins at the weekend.

The University Barbarians have advanced to the club’s second Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final in three years, this time armed with home ground advantage and a seven-match winning streak.

The Barbarians, who last tasted silverware in 2015, upset minor premiers Noosa Dolphins 13-10 at the weekend to ensure they progressed straight to the decider.

The club last played in a grand final in coach Brad Tronc’s first season in charge in 2019.

That was not a moment to remember for coach and club who were defeated by arch rivals and Tronc’s former side Caloundra Lighthouses.

Tronc will be hoping their grand final fortunes are reversed come Saturday, September 18.

He said University were only now being talked about as premiership contenders.

“Things are coming together for us after a slow start,” Tronc said.

“We’d only won two out of six games. But that didn’t worry us. We knew how much growth we had.

“No one spoke about us or talked about our chances. So we just kept worrying about what was in our own backyard.”

And grow they did.

Flashback to action in Noosa between the home team and Uni. The Barbarians toppled the Dolphins 13-10 to book a place in the grand final.

University have won seven straight games, including an undefeated last round of competition to go into the finals race as the form side.

Tronc’s side hadn’t lost since June 12 in a tough-fought away trip to Noosa that finished 31-27.

He said Saturday’s preliminary final win against the Dolphins was all guts in a match that could have gone either way.

With the scores locked at 10-all, back up goal kicker Jordy Armstrong slotted a penalty with minutes remaining for University to hang on.

“It’s huge for the club to get a home final,” he said.

“You have to embrace it. You don’t get the opportunity all that often.”

Tronc said lock forward Callum Smith was the best on ground for his “immense” workload.

University will now enjoy the weekend off while Maroochydore Swans face off with Noosa for a shot against the Barbarians.

It comes after Maroochydore knocked Caloundra out of the competition with 21-17 upset on Saturday.