Young retires as leauge's best

REGARDLESS of what happens in tomorrows grand final, it will be the last game for 2004 Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Player of the Year Grant Young

By KESTER HUBBARD

REGARDLESS of what happens in tomorrows grand final, it will be the last game for 2004 Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Player of the Year Grant Young.

After a senior playing career that has spanned 17 years and seen him represent New Zealand, play with the Auckland Warriors and South Queensland Crushers and win one premiership with Stanley Rivers in 1992, Young, who was announced as Player of the Year last night, will hang up the boots after leading the Beerwah Bulldogs into battle against Nambour Crushers for the Red Rooster Cup. And Young admits that his 34year-old body is weary.

Tomorrows match, provided it only runs to fulltime, will be the last 80 minutes of rugby league that he plays or coaches on the Sunshine Coast.

Beerwah has already tried to get him back for next year, but after guiding the club from its return to the SCGRL in 2002 Young has decided its time for a rest.

He will wait until his son Reed, who turns five later this month, is old enough to decide if he wants to play rugby league, and if he does then he might coach him at the clubs nearest to Albany Creek where they live.

Beerwah finished second to minor premiers Nambour, and although the Bulldogs have not beaten the Crushers, Young has every confidence in his side.

"Our defence has been great throughout the whole year, probably only second to Nambour. And our attack, if we can just control the ball, well go close to giving Nambour a good shake, he said.

Young said despite the excitement of Beerwah being in its first grand final since 1989 he had not altered preparations this week.

"I havent changed a thing all year, not about to now, he said.

"Im not changing anything for game day, well just go about the same preparation, same warmup, same everything.

"(Personally) Theres not really too much emotion at the moment, probably on game day therell be a bit of excitement. Just leading these young fellows, most of them havent even played semi-finals until this year, and its just great to see them come on.

"It was satisfying to help turn the club around.

"We came back into the competition three years ago, and really struggled the first year and then they sort of twisted my arm to go back there and it has just gone from there.

Originally published as Young retires as leauge's best