LJ Hooker League: Preview, players to watch in the 2024/25 grand final

It will be a rematch of last year’s grand final as Cudgen and Marist Brothers meet in the LJ Hooker League. Check out a preview of both teams and the grand final gamebreakers.

Marist Brothers have the chance to win back-to-back LJ Hooker League titles. Picture: DC Photography

It is grand final rematch time in the LJ Hooker League, with Cudgen and Marist Brothers set to battle it out at Reg Dalton Oval in Kingscliff in what is a repeat of last season’s decider.

After breaking a 27-year first grade title drought last season, Brothers now have the chance to defend their crown after an excellent season that saw them lose just three games and finish second on the competition ladder.

“I said to the boys that we’ve given ourselves the opportunity to go back to back, we’ve put ourselves in that position and now it’s just about us crossing our t’s and dotting our i’s and making sure we’re the best prepared we can be for the weekend,” said Marist skipper Brendan Mitchell.

“Going forward from there, we’ve just tried to enjoy the week, enjoy what we’ve achieved so far, but we’ve got one more game to go.”

On the other hand, minor premiers Cudgen will be looking to win their first title in three years after losing the last two grand finals, including last season’s decider to the Brothers.

Marist Brothers finished the regular season in second place. Picture: supplied

However despite going down in that game, Cudgen captain Alec Williams said that his side’s rivalry with Marist is more of a motivating factor than getting a square-up for last season’s grand final loss.

“Particularly being against Marist there’s a rivalry there and there’ll be a bit of feeling in the game, so it’s more that than the fact that we lost a grand final to them last year,” he said.

Despite being part of a team that has dominated Northern Rivers cricket and won several titles over the past decade, Williams said his side is driven to give some of its younger players a taste of success.

“I think this is our 11th straight grand final and there are a lot of blokes in the team – myself, James (Julius), Pat (Rosser), Jamie (Wilson) – who have been there for the majority of those. But after that there are some young blokes who might be playing in their first, second or third grand final.

“So for them it would be an important feeling because they haven’t won one yet. Having lost the last two, they’d definitely be keen to get the win, especially with us being back at home. It’s something that we all want to get because three years feels like a long time for us.”

Both teams come into the grand final on the back of comprehensive semi-finals wins.

Taking on local rivals Goonellabah Workers Sports, Marist Brothers posted 205 in the first innings before taking advantage of fading light on day one to reduce their opponents to 3-7 at stumps and well and truly put themselves on top in the contest.

Marist took a 69-run lead into the second innings after bowling Goonellabah out for 136, and then closed out the game by batting to 3-70 in the second dig to make it through to the final.

It was even more dominant for Cudgen, who caused absolute havoc in its outright win over Casino.

Bowling first on a tricky wicket, Cudgen reduced the Cavaliers to 4-9 early in the first innings before skittling them for just 67.

The home side then worked its way to 162 with the bat before once again bowling Casino out for 91 to cap off the thrashing.

In the teams’ only clash this season, a one-day game in round nine, some excellent lower-order runs from Pat Rosser (62) and Connor Ziebell (49), followed by an excellent team bowling effort, helped Cudgen to a 25-run victory, which ultimately proved crucial in sealing the minor premiership.

Cudgen finished as minor premiers. Picture: supplied

Despite losing to their rivals earlier this season, Marist Brothers skipper Mitchell is confident his team can get the job done in the decider.

“I don’t think there’s any two ways about it: they’ve been the benchmark team for probably the last decade. They’re up there or thereabouts each and every year and are a quality outfit,” he said.

“But if all 12 of us play to our potential we can put in a good show. And that’s all we need to do, worry about ourselves and not them. We all just need to make sure we execute our little role that we play in the team and if we do that we’ll give ourselves a good opportunity.”

The captains agree that fast bowling is set to have a huge say in the result, with both sides boasting strong new-ball attacks.

This is set to be exacerbated by the conditions at Reg Dalton Oval. On the back of the recent cyclone, Williams described the wicket for the semi-final as “the hardest we’ve played on all year”.

Alec Williams is a key man for Cudgen. Picture: Cudgen CC

Given the rain over the course of week, which is forecast to continue into the weekend, the same pitch is expected to be used for the grand final.

“I can’t see it getting any better,” said Williams.

“That’s probably an advantage to us, knowing what it’s done the last couple of weeks. But I don’t think it’ll make that much difference because their strength is generally their seamers. It’ll do a bit early for them as well so I don’t think it’ll do that much difference.”

He added: “We’re pretty confident if we can take early wickets, get into their middle order and dominate with the ball – that’s probably our plan. Then hopefully one of our top four makes a big score. We’ve been chipping away with the bat all year and we’re pretty confident that if we bat the way we can bat with our top order I don’t think they’re going to rip through us.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

One of the highlights not just for Marist Brothers but of the whole competition has been the emergence of young guns Cooper Williams and Joe Parsons over the course of the season.

Despite only being 14 and 16 respectively, the pair sit second and third in terms of runs scored this season, and will play a big role if Marist is to prevail in the final.

“It’s exciting to be around them,” said Mitchell. “They’re only young – 14 and 16 – and are superstars. They go out there, they’re confident, they’re not arrogant and the most impressive thing about them is that they’re absolutely good young men on top of that. They’re not just good sporting wise, they’re good young men.”

Cooper Williams has enjoyed a breakout season. Picture: supplied

For Cudgen, skipper Alec Williams will be looking to take his excellent form into the final. The captain sits fifth in the runscorer’s list with an average of 43. Opener Callum Gall will look to get the side off to a strong start while Riley Weir is set to be a key cog in the middle order.

With the ball, many believe the match will be one and lost with the headline quicks, who have been outstanding for both sides this season.

Marist Brothers’ Brendan Mitchell and Harrison Gillett have formed the most lethal new ball partnership, taking 55 wickets between them at a combined average of 22.

“I’ve really enjoyed the partnership,” said Mitchell. “Harry’s come on in leaps and bounds. He’s been a strong performer in reserve grade over the past couple of years, he’s been given the opportunity and he’s taken it with both hands.

“He’s been great for us with the new ball. He looks dangerous every time he bowls so we’ll back him again to get the job done this weekend.”

For Cudgen, John Ainsworth has had a breakout year, taking 31 wickets to be the second-highest wicket-taker this season.

He’ll take the new ball with one of the most outstanding bowlers in the Northern Rivers in James Julius, who despite missing a significant chunk of the season has taken scalps at an average of just 16 throughout the campaign.

Another key battle is set to take place with the spinners.

Marist Brothers’ English import Harry Donelan has been outstanding in his first season with the club, taking 25 wickets with his left-arm finger spinners at a remarkable average of just 16.8 to be the eight-highest wicket-taker in the competition. He has also chipped in with some handy lower-order runs, most notably scoring 36 in last weekend’s semi-final to help his side recover from a tricky position and post a healthy first innings total.

Harry Kershler has been very impressive for Cudgen. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

He will come up against arguably the most dangerous spin pairing in the competition in Pat Rosser and Harry Kershler.

In what is a striking contrast between the 41-year-old left-arm orthodox Rosser and 17-year-old left-arm leg-spinner Kershler, the pair have taken 62 wickets between them this season, with Rosser leading the Hooker League with 39 and Kershler picking up 23 at the remarkable average of 8.4 and 16.3, respectively.

“They’re both representative spinners,” said Williams. “Pat’s 41 now and has been playing rep cricket since he was 17 or 18, he’s also played Sydney grade cricket so obviously it’s great for Harry to have him there,” he added.

“But Harry’s the best 17-year-old spinner I’ve ever seen. On the weekend he might have only got one or two wickets but in the second innings he was as close to unplayable as I’ve seen in this competition. He was beating the bat on both sides, he spins it both ways and is very skilful. If anything, he bowls too good sometimes to take wickets. Pat gets the reward because he’s not quite as good anymore,” Williams laughed.