Palm Beach Currumbin not out to spoil Broadbeach Robina minor premiership quest in final-round clash

Palm Beach Currumbin player-coach Ryan Kettle says the Lions will have one simple objective tomorrow as Broadbeach Robina look to wrap up the Kookaburra Cup minor premiership.

PALM Beach Currumbin player-coach Ryan Kettle insists the Lions won’t be out to spoil Broadbeach Robina’s minor premiership quest when they meet at Salk Oval tomorrow but says victory could be the first building block in a 2020-21 revival.

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Sitting ninth on the Kookaburra Cup ladder, the Lions will enter their final-round encounter with the Cats with no chance of securing a semi-final appearance for the first time since 2012-13.

Despite a horror 166-run loss to Mudgeeraba Nerang in last weekend’s top-of-the-table battle, Broadbeach will wrap up top spot with a win in the two-day clash with Palm Beach, while defeat would open the door for the Bushmen.

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But having tasted victory just four times in 15 games this campaign, Kettle said his side’s focus was simply on laying the foundations for next season.

Palm Beach Currumbin player-coach Ryan Kettle. Picture: John Gass

“I don’t think it’s any secret it’s been a pretty disappointing season for us. We expected a little bit more from ourselves as a team so we’re going into this game looking to have a good game,” Kettle said.

“We’re not really playing the game to try and upset anyone else’s season. Broadbeach have been really good this year so if they beat us they deserve to be top.

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“I imagine Broady are coming into this game trying to develop a huge amount of momentum going into finals. We’ll be expecting them to come out trying to prove they’re number one.

Palm Beach Currumbin batsman Zane Beattie. Picture: Steve Holland

“Obviously we’re going to be trying to win the game but also trying to prove to ourselves we’re not as bad as our results have been this season. If we go well it’s something to look at next season when we regroup.”

The sides’ Round 7 fixture in November was the one that got away for Palm Beach.

Chasing the Cats’ 9-195, they were perfectly poised at 2-150 before a lower-order stumble left them seven runs shy of an upset.

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“Last time we came up against Broadbeach, at different times while batting we could’ve won but didn’t have that drive to get over the line. The talent is there,” Kettle said.

In the game of the round, Mudgeeraba will host fourth-placed Surfers Paradise as both teams tune up for finals on March 21-22.

ROUND 18 FIXTURES

■ Palm Beach Currumbin vs. Broadbeach Robina

■ Runaway Bay vs. Queens

■ Mudgeeraba Nerang vs. Surfers Paradise

■ Coomera Hope Island vs. Burleigh

■ Alberton Ormeau vs. Southport Labrador

Bye: Helensvale Pacific Pines