Blues win over Bombers gives them confidence for grand final
The Northern Bombers have many strengths and on the eve of their TSL grand final Launceston coach Mitch Thorp — the only coach to plot their downfall this season — has revealed their best asset.
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THE Northern Bombers have many great strengths and on the eve of their TSL grand final Launceston coach Mitch Thorp — the only coach to plot their downfall this season — has revealed what he believes is their best asset.
Thorp says North’s forward line is dangerous, its onballers productive, ruckman outstanding, and a backline that locks down tighter than Ebenezer Scrooge’s wallet.
As Launceston tries to become the first team to beat North Launceston in grand final since Glenorchy in 2016, Thorp says one element is more impressive than the rest.
“Their half-backline is particularly strong — Jay Foon, Arion Richter-Salter and Braden van Buuren – they are all very good, not only defensively but offensively,” Thorp said.
“They set up a lot of their scoring trains.
“That’s the area I would identify as their strongest.”
Launceston’s win over North at Windsor Park in round two may be a distant memory but still has meaning.
“It gives the boys a little bit of confidence that if we get it right on the day we can get the job done,” Thorp said.
“But they’ve only lost one game for the year, that was obviously to us, so we are one-all, but leading into a grand final is a nice position to be in.
“We are very similar sides, very evenly matched and it’s going to come down to whoever gets it right on the day.”
The Blues are champing at the bit to create their piece of history.
“We are really excited,” Thorp said.
“We are the first team to have four teams qualify for grand finals — the under-18s, Development League, the women and seniors.
“Perhaps we are slight underdogs in all of those games but it’s not a bad position for a club to be in.”
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