RLGC Grand Final: Runaway Bay stars out to avenge their last grand final loss
The lessons branded in Runaway Bay stars from their disastrous last grand final appearance will help them avoid those pitfalls when they come face-to-face with the Burleigh Bears.
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The lessons branded in Runaway Bay trio Alex Bishop, Harrison Muller and Guy Hamilton from their disastrous last grand final appearance will help them avoid those pitfalls when they come face-to-face with the Burleigh Bears.
Bishop, Muller and Hamilton were members of the Sunshine Coast Falcons squad who had the 2017 Intrust Super Cup title ripped away from them despite leading the Papua New Guinea Hunters for all but the final seconds of the Suncorp Stadium decider.
Best mates Muller and Hamilton played in that game; neither has found the strength to review the footage, so raw is the pain they feel in defeat.
None of the trio have reached the finals of any competition in the years since, raising the stakes of Saturday’s Rugby League A Grade final even higher.
“After a loss like that you realise how hard it is to make a final,” Muller said.
“It sucked. That was my first senior grand final and I was only 21. Now you realise it takes a fair bit of luck as well as just playing well.”
Hamilton said it was impossible to forget losing a final in the 79th minute.
“When you lose a grand final like that it sticks with you,” he said.
“It hurts when you’re a tight bunch like were.
“Anyone who gets an opportunity to get back to a grand final after losing, you know they want to be on the other end of the result next time.”
Their shared disappointment has Runaway Bay sharpening their spears to take on Burleigh, who will play their fifth local final in six years on Saturday.
The trio were the cornerstones of coach Nick Gleeson’s recruitment drive for 2020, which began with Muller, who invited Hamilton to join him before the border closure delivered Bishop from Ballina to the Bay.
Now they hope to show youngsters in the team how to avoid the pitfalls that sunk their last grand final dream.
“Obviously we have lots of young players who’ve never experienced playing in a final,” Hamilton said.
“To do it with your mates while helping others reach their goal makes it extra special.”
Muller said to cap off their Queensland Cup ‘gap year’ with raising the A Grade trophy would be the perfect way to end an unforgettable season.
“Even to just play in a grand final,” he said.
“We’re there, we want to win, but it would be something special for all three of us.
“We weren’t going to play at all this year until we found a really good club.”
Runaway Bay will take on Burleigh at Cbus Super Stadium at 5.30pm on Saturday.
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