Bilambil and Evans Head to meet in NRRRL grand final rematch

It’s only round three, but rugby league fans in the Northern Rivers will be treated to an absolute blockbuster when Evans Head take on Bilambil in a rematch of last year’s grand final.

We might only be two weeks into the new season, but on Saturday rugby league fans in the Northern Rivers will be treated to an absolute blockbuster when Evans Head take on Bilambil in a rematch of last year’s grand final.

It has been seven and a half months since last season’s decider, in which the Jets prevailed 30-18 at home to claim their first premiership under the NRRRL structure.

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And while it was a magical day for the club that will live long in the memory of the raucous Jets fans who packed out The Valley, the premiers are looking to play down the significance of this weekend’s rematch against the Bombers.

“We’re just treating it like another round of football,” said coach Arwin Marcus. “We’ve spoken about it collectively as a group that last year is done and dusted, and I think that being premiers, every club will be head-hunting us.

“And we’ve got no doubt Evans will be pumped for this game and want to get back at us for that grand final win, especially being a Saturday down at Evans.”

The Jets beat the Bombers 30-18 in last year’s grand final. Photo: Bilambil Jets RLFC.

Indeed, if being a new season wasn’t enough for the Jets to wipe the slate clean, then the fact that the game will be played at Stan Payne Oval in front of the boisterous Bombers faithful will certainly ensure that the clash is a different proposition.

“A big thing for us is not to lose at home, so them coming down to Evans Head, everyone’s going to step up,” said Bombers captain-coach Trevor Bolt. “It is a bit of a grudge match, I want the two points off them for the grand final, but we’ll just have to take the game as it goes.”

Both sides will come into the match down on troops, with Evans Head without injured fullback Roy Bell, as well as a couple of others who are out with work commitments.

“This week’s going to be a bit different,” says Bolt. “I have to see who I’ll put at fullback, we’re missing a couple of boys with work, so there’s going to be a bit of a reshuffle.”

Bolt will be key for the Bombers. Photo: supplied.

Meanwhile Bilambil themselves are missing four first graders, including Jack Durheim and Lachie Garner, with youngsters Cameron Bevan and Riley Buchanan to step up and make their first grade debuts.

“We’re not making any excuses, it gives the opportunity for some young blokes coming up from the under-18s,” says Marcus.

“It’s all about giving these kids an opportunity and we can’t wait to see them strive and see what they come up with this weekend.”

Despite being sent off last week, Justin Shillingsworth has been cleared and will play against Bilambil on Saturday. Photo: supplied.

The defending premiers come into the match undefeated after getting the points over Tweed Coast and Cudgen in the opening two rounds.

“We’ve started the year off really well, but we’re still building,” said Marcus.

“We’re still scraping away with those wins, definitely not playing our prettiest football, but at the start of the year I spoke about being more consistent and last week we were much more consistent than round one. We’re also improving collectively as a group as well, so we’re really excited about this weekend’s game.”

As for Evans Head, they’ll come into the grand final rematch with a record of one from two. After starting with a first-up 36-12 victory over Casino, the Bombers went down to Ballina 26-22 in an arm-wrestle last week.

“The first game was good, a good hit-out for us,” says Bolt. “We knew Ballina was going to be competitive on the weekend, it was a bit of a challenge for us to see where we’re really at. But we lost our fullback Roy Bell early in the game and then we lost one of our second rowers, Justin Shillingsworth, he got sent for the game, so that hurt us a bit.”

But come Saturday afternoon, Bolt says the form guide will go right out the window as his team looks to get one over the premiers.

“We just have to prepare well. It’s going to be a big game, there’s going to be a big crowd – it’s going to be huge for us.”