GCDRU: Brothers Brad Griffin and Blake Griffin to bring the pain in Knights-Gators blockbuster
Two brothers will take their backyard rivalry into first grade for the first time when Palm Beach Currumbin take on Griffith University Colleges in a top of the table clash. SUBSCRIBE TO READ THE PREVIEW
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two brothers will take their backyard rivalry into first grade for the first time when Palm Beach Currumbin take on Griffith University Colleges in a top of the table clash.
Alleygators flanker Brad Griffin and his younger brother Blake, on the wing for undefeated Knights, are descended from New Zealand rugby league royalty but have chosen to make their names in rugby instead.
MORE GOLD COAST RUGBY
• PBC survive four yellow cards to repel northern invasion
• Bledisloe Blockbuster: How Coast won shock call on Cup clash
• Not since the Moon Landing: Rugby records tumble at TSS
The nephews of New Zealand test great and 1992 Dally M medal-winner Gary Freeman have vowed to put on a show in their first ever clash, in front of what is expected to be a sizeable crowd at Bienvenue Drive.
“This is our first proper game (as opponents) and we’re going to go at it,” said elder brother Brad, 28.
“We were always playing in the backyard after school and on the weekends.
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS
“We were always very super competitive, not just with footy; playstation, cards, playing board games.
“I was the worse loser because I hated losing to my younger brother so I’d always cheat at board games or just make up my own rules.
“If I get the chance to line him up on Saturday he’s done – and obviously with Blake if there’s a chance to get me he will too.”
Blake, 25, said he had already mapped out how he would go one up on his self-professed “bully” of an older brother.
“I’ve been asked this all week, would I put the goosey (goose-step) on him or would I run it straight,” Griffin said.
“Everyone’s saying I should run around him but my mentality is to run it straight.”
Would he win that collision?
“Bloody oath I would – speed beats strength any day of the week.”
While the younger Griffin began playing rugby at 16, Brad has only recently converted to the code after engaging his fiancé Ebony, a former Fijian Sevens representative nicknamed the ‘Lady Stretcher’ after her own famous uncle, hard-hitting Bill ‘The Stretcher’ Satala.
Griffin was a rugby league forward for Keebra Park and the Southport Tigers before PBC coaches Jed Hogan and Michael Bell helped him find his niche on the flank in rugby.
“I’ve had a few big games in rugby league but never such a high-intensity build-up like this,” he said.
“It’s going to be a massive atmosphere playing at Palm Beach in front of the Old Boys.
“We’re really looking to stamp our mark on this year’s comp because people keep treating us like we’re underdogs, and we’re ready to show them we’re not.”
Earlier:
ThePalm Beach Currumbin Alleygators fought four minutes into overtime to stave off a resurgent Gold Coast Eagles outfit 22-19.
PBC started the match in explosive fashion, blasting home three tries in the opening 19 minutes to lead their hosts 17-5 at Overell Park.
Former Melbourne Rebels academy prospect Rian Olivier, who transferred to the Eagles from Casuarina Barbarians after the border closure, helped steer the Eagles back into the lead 19-17 in the 73rd minute.
The next 10 minutes were the most exciting of the season, Alleygators rugby manager Michael Bell said.
“We were down but we still had eight minutes on the clock and we knew that if we stuck to our systems of what worked in the first 20 we’d be able to stretch them,” Bell said.
“And we did.”
PBC lock Sagele Harrison crashed over out wide in the 77th minute but a missed conversion from Ethan Lolesio – who kicked a perfect seven-from-seven last week – kept the Eagles in the hunt.
A penalty on halfway brought the home side back into the redzone for seven straight minutes of attack, four of which with the referee’s stopwatch warning that time had expired.
Related stories
• TSS come from behind to keep their season alive
• PBC building culture via road trip
• James O’Connor plays first home game in 13 years
With the game and their second-placed position on the ladder under threat PBC’s physical defence forced a knock-on to win the game.
“It would be nice not to have been in that position to start with, if we’d kept our foot on the pedal,” Bell said.
“We defended with some urgency and purpose, really attacked without the ball (during the final stand).
“That’s what you build your foundations on if you want to play finals football.”
Eagles coach Jai Johnson agreed it was a thrilling contest but lamented that his side couldn’t get the job done after fighting back to lead.
“We just weren’t physical enough,” he said.
“We have all the skills but we’re well and truly the smallest team on the Coast.
“We’ll finish stronger than other teams because we’re smaller and fitter but the physicality of their big boys took its toll.”
Around the grounds
Bond Pirates 0 defeated by Coomera Crushers 29
Helensvale Hogs 39 defeated Surfers Paradise 18
Nerang Bulls 37 defeated by Griffith Uni Knights 57
Emerging Reds Cup: 50+ rugby rookies honoured in awards; Players of the Day
Here’s 50+ schoolboy rugby players from all eight U14s years and U16s years teams honoured in various awards following the Emerging Reds Cup at Ballymore. All is revealed here, including the top pictures from day three.
GPS First XV rugby: Team of the Year unveiled
GPS First XV rugby: The Team of the Season has been revealed following a stunning season won by three-peat premiers Nudgee College. See who made it from your school here.