Burleigh & Southport wiping slate clean for Rugby League Gold Coast A grade grand final
ONE will enter the grand final as raging favourite; the other has found form at the right time. But Burleigh and Southport know they must wipe the slate clean ahead of the Rugby League Gold Coast decider.
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ONE will enter as raging favourite after reinforcing its status as a Rugby League Gold Coast powerhouse.
The other has rediscovered some of its best form at the right time to keep dreams of an underdog premiership alive.
But Burleigh and Southport know they must wipe the slate clean ahead of tomorrow’s A grade grand final as they battle for Glitter Strip rugby league supremacy.
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Surprisingly absent from last year’s finals, the Bears have been near untouchable in 2019, losing just once – to Tugun in Round 15 – en route to a runaway minor premiership.
Second at the end of the regular season, Southport’s losing run stretched to four games when they fell to Currumbin in the opening week of the playoffs, before bouncing back against Tugun and the Eagles with their season on the line.
While Burleigh are tipped to claim their first premiership since 2015, both captains know the past will count for nothing come 4pm today at Pizzey Park.
“Anything is possible in a grand final,” said Tigers skipper Tu Whakatihi, who has won all four previous deciders with Southport and seven of nine overall.
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“We’re going in with a bit of confidence. Last time (Burleigh) flogged us (52-10) so we didn’t take too much out of that except trying to wipe it from the memory. It’s more about finding that belief that we can beat them.
“We’ve bounced back. There’s still a little bit to work on but it’s really good to get the win (last week) and be in the grand final.
“We’re not as nervous now because we’re in the grand final, whereas previously you’re a bit nervous because your season is on the line and you didn’t want to get knocked out. It’s good being the underdogs, the pressure is off a bit.”
Burleigh’s thrashing of Southport in Round 19 last month was preceded by 34-10 and 24-10 victories when the sides met earlier in the season.
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However, Bears skipper and halfback Conner Toia, who has played in premiership teams with Burleigh (2015) and Runaway Bay (2018), is taking nothing for granted in their fourth meeting.
“We have built towards this but at the end of the day it’s whoever turns up with the most want to win,” the 26-year-old said.
“We’re not look at us as being favourites. We just take it one week at a time and give the best performance every week. We will just keep that same mentality.
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“There’s always extra emphasis on finals games but the game doesn’t really change, you have just got to make sure everyone is doing their jobs and everything should work out. I think we have just got to turn up with the right attitude and do all the little things right and match their energy.
“They’re a big, physical side so that will be the first thing, to match it with them in that battle and go from there.”
BURLEIGH
1. George House
2. Te Rangiatea McDonald
3. Regan Ogle
4. Shawn Anderson
5. Reece Tapine
6. Matthew Egan
7. Conner Toia (c)
8. Tyler Szepanowski
9. Jordan Scott
10. Reece Summer
11. Brett Stratton
12. Darius Farmer
13. Dylan Kelly
Interchange
14. Luke Maiden
15. Samson Halatau
16. Tyler Sparkes
17. Ben Valeni
SOUTHPORT
1. Tuhoea Watene
2. Carlo Alimboyong
3. Lee Turner
4. Nazareth Monsall
5. Barry Ruttley
6. Campbell Pirihi
7. Drumayne Dayberg-Muir
8. Luke Polson
9. Jacob Pottinger
10. Nathan Young
11. Tuwharetoa Whakatihi-Paikea (c)
12. Jaleel Seve Derbas
13. Simione Ata
Interchange
14. Liam Hampson
15. Dallas Donnelly
16. Lachlan Douglas
17. Corey Walker
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