Take a deep dive into how each team can win the FNQRL grand finals
All pre-season and home and away season have led these clubs to the first Saturday in September, for the biggest stage of the year. Read how each team can win the FNQRL men’s, reserves and under 19’s grand finals and cast your VOTE inside >>>
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It has been 22 weeks since round 1 for the Far North Queensland Rugby League but it all comes down to Saturday September 7.
Eight games will be played at Barlow Park across an action packed 12 hours to crown the premiers of the under 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s 17s, 19s, reserves and senior men’s.
For Brothers, they have a chance to win their third premiership in three years to become a dynasty.
For Ivanhoes, they will look to repeat the heroics of round 18, ending The Brothers winning streak only this time with bigger things to play for.
Take a dive into what the captains said for the under 19s, reserves and senior grand finals.
Senior A Grade Men’s
Brothers captain Jordan Biondi-Odo said it would be great to make history for the club
“We are feeling really good, we are feeling comfortable and ready to go,” Biondi-Odo said
“Everyone sets out at the start of the year to play in a grand final and now that we are there, it is pretty easy to get the lads dialled in for it.
“It definitely helps that we have been in a few now, we are probably a little bit seasoned at these games, it might take that nervous edge off.
“But at the end of the day it is just another game of footy really.
“For the history of the club it would be great, I don’t know if it has been done before.
“But our focus isn’t trying to win three, it is trying to get our boys who haven’t won one there firsts, that is a bigger factor for us at the moment.
How Brothers can win it:
“Obviously they have got Josh Dugan and James Segeyaro, if we can limit, we won’t be able to stop them, but if we can limit what they do then we are a big chance to win it.
“Just playing our brand of footy, we just worry about ourselves and don’t worry about the other team and if you are good enough to beat us, we will shake your hand at the end of the day.
“There definitely is a lot more pressure, it all rides down to 80 minutes but if we just get the smaller details of our game right, we will be sweet.”
Ivanhoes captain Josh Dugan said his side will take confidence out of the gruelling preliminary final win.
“It was the longest game I have ever been involved in, think it was about 108 or 109 minutes which is pretty crazy,” Dugan said.
“But we needed a result and I think we really dug deep and showed a bit of grit there to comeback, I think it was 28-8 at one point.
“To be able to come back from that and get a win into the grand final, it is massive and we have built our year on that, just digging deep.
“You don’t get to this position to where we are if you don’t back yourself, we have shown that we are one of the top teams and we are fully deservant of being in the grand final and we will give it a red hot crack.”
How the Knights can win it:
“Our last sort of six weeks have been really solid and our defence has been probably one of the main factors for that,” Dugan said.
“We just have to keep doing what has been working for us, moving the big pack around and finding our shape and obviously our defence.
“If we can defend well, usually that puts us in good sted to win.”
Reserves Grade
Brothers reserves grade captain Luke Fleming said he hopes the club can pull off a repeat of 2022.
“We have had really good prep having the week off, the boys are really rested,” Fleming said.
“We were lucky enough to have it happen (both grades in the grand final) a couple of years ago in 2022, it is a really good feeling around the club, everyone is in high spirits at the moment.
“I am backing the boys in to do it, we have been one of the best teams all year, we have just got one more game to do it.”
How Brothers can win it:
“I just think it is a team effort,” Fleming said.
“We have a really strong forward pack and some lightning fast backs.
“So I think as a combination we are going to be really hard to beat.”
Kangaroos reserves grade prop Jarom Mairu said it has been nothing but positive vibes all week.
“The boys are feeling good, some really good vibes around the club at the moment,” Mairu said.
“We have been really confident (this season), started with the strong pre-season, the playing group around us has been really positive.
“We have done it the hard way but we are here now, so we are grateful.
“When the girls got it, it sort of drove the hunger for the club and then getting club champions too, that was really good.
“Hopefully we can do one better and bring another one home.
How the Kangaroos can win it:
“Just being there for each other, we have a really good spine and just that vibe around the team, everyone wants to turn up for each other,’ Mairu said.
“We know Brothers are a really good team and we know what they can do but if we can come on the day with the ability to do it then we can do it.”
Under 19s
Kangaroos Under 19s captain Sario Nakata said his side cannot wait to run out on Saturday.
“I think our biggest strength is just worrying about the next job,” Nakata said.
“If we get a penalty, now next job.”
How the Kangaroos can win it:
“It will be a tough game, good little rematch though.”
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Originally published as Take a deep dive into how each team can win the FNQRL grand finals
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