‘A different beast’: Bulls charging through undefeated campaign, Knights on five-peat hunt on GCDRU grand final eve

Can the Nerang Bulls break a 26-year dought and claim the 2024 Phil Temperton Cup, or will Colleges Knights strike when it counts most for their fifth straight title? Full GCDRU grand final preview inside:

USE FOR NUMBER ONLY GCDRU major semi final between Colleges Knights and Nerang Bulls. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The grand final of all grand finals is set for Saturday August 24, the Nerang Bulls and Griffith Uni Colleges Knights gearing up for a clash of the ages in GCDRU’s first grade big dance.

Nerang, undefeated thus far, will look to break a 26-year drought by polishing off the season without dropping a game - and claim their first premiership since 2006.

Knights on the other hand have a crown to defend, having claimed the past four premierships and made nine straight grand final appearances.

The side dropped three games in the regular season - one to Surfers Paradise and two against Nerang and head coach Shaun Cole said he would bring the same fiery approach from the season into this grand final.

“We approach it with absolutely nothing to lose.

“They’ll have some pressure on them being in front of a huge home crowd and we are just going to roll up and focus on playing our way.

“We’re a pretty tight group so we will just get around one another as much as possible and be ready to go.”

GCDRU major semi final between Colleges Knights and Nerang Bulls. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Cole admitted they may be underdogs on this occasion, but it hasn’t - and won’t - dampen the Knights’ spirits.

“We have worked so hard for so long and this is our ninth straight grand final together so it’s very special,” he said.

“I’m not sure how much longer some of our boys will play so if it’s the end for some I hope it’s with another trophy in the cabinet.

And while they undoubtedly hold the ‘favourites’ status, Bulls head coach Te Ari Mahuri hasn’t lost sight on what matters most.

“The previous three games don’t mean anything, grand finals are a different beast,” he said.

“We have made a few tweaks to our game plan and shapes ... also made a couple positional changes for the game also. We can’t rely on being the same as the last game as I know they watch film of our last contest.”

Nerang boast a unique advantage in the fact all three GCDRU senior grades will play for a trophy this weekend.

“The big goal is to take all three senior grades out and with us playing this weekend,” Mahuri said.

“We’ve all essentially got one hand on the cup.”

If successful, it will make Nerang the first club to clean sweep the first, second and third grade competitions since 2008.

Cole said that despite the past nine grand finals and hunting a five-peat premiership, there would be no pressure on his Knights.

“Grand final days are so special because it’s a celebration for not only the players but everyone involved in the club and the families of all the players,” he said.

GCDRU major semi final between Colleges Knights and Nerang Bulls. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“The boys sacrifice time with their partners and kids and family so to have everyone there on the last game of the year is exciting more than anything.”
Mahuri on the other hand knows all too well the crowd will be expecting a home win.

“Being that it’s a home final generates its own kind of pressure, but we’ve said this since January so we’ve been building for this moment,” Mahuri said

“We know it’s just another Saturday arvo, another game, but at the end of it we get to raise a trophy.”

Confident his side will get the job done under pressure, Mahuri predicted a 22-point victory while Cole stayed more reserved.

“You never know how these days will go,” Cole said.

“I’ll be proud of my boys regardless and they just need stay in the fight for 80 minutes.

“I just want them to come off the field with the heads held high knowing they did everything possible.”