Sunshine Coast rugby league 2022 grand final preview

Senior rugby league coaches have revealed their thoughts and key players ahead of Saturday's grand final with competition personalities giving their picks. Have your say.

Sunshine Coast rugby league 2022 grand final preview.

The battle for the major silverware has arrived with 10 teams across five divisions taking part in this weekend’s blockbuster Sunshine Coast senior rugby league grand finals at the Kawana sports precinct.

Senior clubs Maroochydore Swans, Beerwah Bulldogs, Kawana Dolphins, Caloundra Sharks, Coolum Colts, Palmwoods Devils and the Mary Valley Stags will take part in the action from 11am on Saturday, September 10.

The men's division one match will pit the Maroochydore Swans against Beerwah Bulldogs.

The Swans started the season with two draws before kicking into gear and ending the regular season as minor premiers with 14 wins, two draws and one loss.

The men in green and black will also be hoping to rectify their 2021 grand final loss against Kawana.

The Bulldogs, who finished the regular season in third with 10 wins and seven losses, will be chasing their first ever Sunshine Coast division one premiership after a nailbiting 22-20 loss in the 2018 grand final against Maroochydore.

Head coaches Dennis Moore (Maroochydore) and Brett Hill (Beerwah) gave their thoughts ahead of the do-or-die matchup with competition rival coaches also revealing who they believe will take out the 2022 premiership.

Maroochydore head coach Dennis Moore (left) and Beerwah head coach Brett Hill.

Q: What’s your takeaway from the match-ups and results earlier in the season?

Moore: “It’s good to have that history over them but on the day I don’t think it means anything,” he said.

“There’s two teams on the paddock and really that’s all that matters because whoever plays the best will come out on top.”

Hill: “I’d say it’s pretty much back to square one but in those three games there weren’t many points in them so I don’t think we’re reading a big deal into that instead we’ll just see what happens on the day.”

Q: Where do you think the game will be won or lost?

Moore: “There’s no sort of one point I think it’s just us across the board,” he said.

“It’s more about everyone bringing their best on the day and if that happens I’m confident the result will go our way.”

Hill: “I think we’ve had four hard games in a row so our fitness is pretty good whereas they’ve had a couple of easier games so maybe our fitness will be good towards the back end of the game,” he said.

Q: Which players will act as game breakers for your team?

Moore: “We’ve got a couple of guys that can own moments in a game and I’ll be looking towards a few of them but to be quite honest it’s all a hard graft,” he said.

“It’s all the little efforts that really add up at the end of the day so if we can get all that stuff done and hopefully own a few big moments throughout the game you should come out on top but there’s a lot of little things that need to be done.”

Hill: “I think the boys will look forward to the two captains, the Kidd brothers,” he said.

“I think they’re both inspirational and will play a big role in the outcome.”

Q: Final thoughts?

Moore: “They’re good to be honest,” he said.

“They’re super excited about it but they’re keeping it in check.

“We’ve been waiting all year to get to this point and the session on Tuesday was really good, I expect it to be a quality final session on Thursday and then we go to the big one and see what happens.”

Hill: “Yeah I know they’ll be fine mate, they’ll be fine,” he said.

Competition Coaches tips

Andrew Hinson (Kawana Dolphins): “I think Maroochydore take it out this season,” he said.

“We played them in that first semi two weeks ago and I just think they’re hungry for it all.

“I know Beerwah haven’t won it before but I just think Maroochydore have a bit of a bee in their bonnet after last year.

“The old saying goes ‘you’ve got to lose one to win one’ and so they’ve been very hungry and very impressive the last few weeks so I think they get the chocolates on the weekend.”

Mitch Buckett (Caboolture Snakes): “I think Maroochydore gets it done on the day,” he said.

“I think it was obviously a few weeks ago now but us beating them in round 15 was probably the wake up call they needed going into finals.”

Brett Winkler (Noosa Pirates): “I think my old team the Swannies is who I’ll be going for,” he said.

“I think it will be a lot closer than people think as Beerwah definitely deserve to be there and I think it will be won up the middle.

“The team who owns that spot in attack and defence will come away the better and that’s the only soft spot I think for Maroochydore if they can’t hold them there because I think they’ve got the attack to certainly get them over the line.

“But if Beerwah can do all right in that part they’ll push them surprisingly I think.”

Mick Buckley (Gympie Devils): “I honestly think Maroochydore, they’ve been the best side all year,” he said.

“Across the park they’ve just got so many good strengths, they’ve got a good bench, a great coach so I think they’ll be very hard to beat.

“I’ve got a soft spot for Beerwah, I’d like to see them win it since they’ve never got one but I just think Maroochydore are too strong.”

Ken Kerr (Nambour Crushers): “I think it really depends on how Beerwah are going to play the game,” he said.

“They’ve got a massive pack, they’re all fit so I think they’ve got to play like pr---s and they could win.

“Maroochydore are very well drilled but if Beerwah muscle up they’ll beat Maroochydore.”

Senior Grand Final Schedule

11am U18 Men's - Maroochydore Swans v Kawana Dolphins

12.40pm Division 2B Men - Palmwoods Devils v Mary Valley Stags

2.20pm Division 2A Men - Coolum Colts v Beerwah Bulldogs

4pm Open Women - Caloundra Sharks v Kawana Dolphins

5.30pm Division 1 Men - Maroochydore Swans v Beerwah Bulldogs