We reveal each team’s star players in our 2024 Downs Rugby grand final preview
After months of blood, sweat and tears, the 2024 Downs Rugby grand final day is upon us. Take a look at the players set to star for your club as well as the potential opposition danger players here.
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It is finals season on the Darling Downs and Clive Berghofer Stadium will be rocking this Saturday with the four senior Downs Rugby grand finals.
From the men’s A-grade to C-grade to the women’s competition, check out our bumper grand final preview, featuring the players to watch from your side, as well as the danger players from the opposition and where the games are set to be won and lost.
Risdon Cup – A-grade men – Goondiwindi Emus v Dalby Wheatmen
Dalby
Coach: Rob Johnston
Where grand final will be won and lost
“Gundy are very strong across the field but they’ve got big experienced forwards,” Johnston said.
“I think upfront, all those grand finals are won upfront so I think it will be in the forwards.”
Players to watch
“Our player of the year Lachie Currie and Queensland Country rep Sam Laffy.
“They are two of our players who have all year week in, week out been amazing so we are hoping for big games from them.”
Opposition danger players
“They have experienced players in Jack Cook and Lachlan Tulloch.
“They are two of the best players on the Downs and have been for 10 years and they are always big-match players.”
Coach’s comments: “It is amazing (to be in the grand final), it has been a long journey.
“We started three years ago with a mob of really young kids and we’ve built our way through the last three years to get a shot at the grand final, so ecstatic and couldn’t be happier.
“We have been playing some good football, we are young, we are inexperienced, so times through the semi-finals that haven’t been great, but on a whole we have been playing some good football the last month.”
Goondiwindi
Coach: Sam Tweedy
Where grand final will be won and lost
“I think definitely in the forward pack,” Tweedy said.
“It has been one of our bigs strengths this year – working off the backs getting plenty of good ball off the platform the forwards have set.”
Players to watch
“Two of the old experienced heads, Jack Cook in the forwards and Michael Jamieson in the backs.
“They’ve been doing this long enough and they have experience in playing finals and they’re still at the top of the game and I think they’ll a big part of us doing well.”
Opposition danger player
“Sam Laffy is always very dangerous, he’s been in and around that A-grade side for a fair while and is one of their leaders.”
Coach’s comments: “I couldn’t be prouder, they’ve worked really hard this year and to have A and B grade in the grand final is certainly really pleasing for our club and we’re just hoping to do well.”
Bill Flamsteed Cup – B-grade men – Goondiwindi Emus v Dalby Wheatmen
Goondiwindi
Coach: Sam Tweedy
Where grand final will be won and lost
“I think in the B-grade game especially, the forward packs are matched quite evenly so if our young forward pack can hold their own I think our backs can do some damage,” Tweedy said.
Players to watch
“I think the captain James Scanlan, he’s a player who will be a big part if we are going to win.
“Also Max Dwyer our No. 8, he has been having a really good season and is just a workhorse and I think if he has a big game it will be a big part of us to have success.”
Opposition danger player
“Young Matt Nolan has been pretty dangerous for them, so we will have to keep an eye out for him, he’s a young back.”
Dalby
Coach: Troy Francis
Where grand final will be won and lost
“The boys have got to play 70 minutes,” Francis said.
“They’ve beaten us all year but it has been in the last few minutes, so we got to finish off our game.”
Players to watch
“Tom Schutt will be solid as always and with Harrison Murphy on the wing, he gets through a lot of work.”
Opposition danger players
“Joe Klein in their front row, he is always a very good prop and difficult to stop as well.”
Coach’s comments: “I’m very proud of the lads, we had to work hard on the weekend to get there but very proud.
“Surprisingly the boys are reasonably confident, they have a bit of a positive attitude because they have won so many games.”
ES Dooney Hayes Cup – C-grade men – Dalby Wheatmen v Gatton Black Pigs
Dalby
Coach: Ted Storey
Where grand final will be won and lost
“I think it will be pretty even, the forwards are both large and mobile and the back lines both have size and mobility, so it will be the flip of a coin,” Storey said.
Players to watch
“Our most improved player for the year is Sam Garside,” Storey said.
“Garside is a winger who improves after every game and absorbs information like a sponge.”
Opposition danger players
“Their number 12 (Jared Fearby) and 15 (Angus Brennand), they will be the ones to watch and shutdown.”
Coach’s comments: “It is phenomenal, it is a genuine developing Colts team with a couple of olds head to guide the way,” Storey said.
“They are going to develop as senior players quicker than if they were in the under-19s comp.”
Storey also praised the multicultural aspect of his side and believes it will go a long way towards victory on the weekend.
“On our side we are going with the luck of the Irish, the fierceness of the Fijians, the silky skills of the Samoans and the all around Aussies.”
Gatton
Coach: Thomas Kent
Where grand final will be won and lost
“Probably the battle at the ruck and around ball retention,” Kent said
“Almost every team is bigger than us so we’ve got to be on the cleans and ruck support from the get go, and obviously have to stop Dalby from having easy ball in our half as well.”
Players to watch
“Two players spring to mind, inside centre Jared Fearby – he’s tough and runs very hard and straight, he also has a very good skill set and knowledge of the game and open side flanker Charlie Lawler.
“Charlie has a huge engine and is very good on the pilfer, when his balance is right he is Pocock-like and should get plenty of joy on the ball this weekend.
Opposition danger players
“Their no. 15 Paul Maguire impressed me in the semi, covered the ground well and was good at throwing that last pass.
“Hoping to shut down his time and space this weekend.”
Coach’s comments: “I’m extremely proud of the C-grade boys particularly in the way they stuck at it this season.
“They were dealt some tough cards early, with no full-time coach and having to be trained with A grade every Thursday night, but a core group of them stayed strong the whole season and are reaping the benefits now.”
Women’s XV Black Isuzu Cup – Toowoomba Bears v St George/Roma
Toowoomba Bears
Coach: Jason Black
Where grand final will be won and lost
“I think it will be interesting to see how the backlines line up against each other,” Black said.
“I think both teams have got very good backlines, I think the forward pakcs might null each other out a little bit.
“It will be the backlines who probably decide who wins the game.”
Players to watch
“Taleah Ackland she’s an Australian junior sevens player, we have Anna Park who’s in the centres, she’s made the Australian Schools Sevens side.
“We got Lily Black in the forwards and Anna Johnston in the forwards.”
Danger players
“There’s three girls for us to watch, there’s Renee Donpon, Meg Jakins and Reeghyn Beardmore, they’re the three players that we will obviously have to keep an eye on.
“They’re all good players, they are all Queensland Country players so a lot of their game play will be around those girls.”
Coach’s comments: “It is a great effort from them, we have done a good job this year, we won the Emilee Cherry Cup earlier in the year and we are trying to back up and win the 15s.”
St George/Roma
Co-captain: Meg Jakins
Where grand final will be won and lost
“I think it will be a battle for our forwards trying to dominate field position and possession,” Jakins said.
“If we can win that battle it will go a long way.”
Players to watch
“Jess Jackson, one of our forwards, she has had a really positive year and is coming off the back of South Queensland Country and will bring a lot of power.
“Amy Lorenz, she’s a young 17-year-old who has also played for Queensland sevens and made the Australian squad.
“A real utility in the back with strong passing and running.”
Opposition danger players
“Taleah Ackland, she is one of their strong assets.
“She’s a really powerful runner and powerful in contact and we need to take some space from her.”
Captain’s comments: “I’m very proud, we’ve got a lot of new and returning players so it has been a big year for development rugby at our two clubs.”
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