The Harrigan Cup Finals Series presented by i98 continues with two high-stakes clashes as Corrimal and Thirroul battle for direct passage to the Grand Final, while Collegians and Dapto face a sudden-death showdown.
Minor premiers Corrimal return refreshed from last weekend’s bye and enter the Major Semi Final on their home turf at Ziems Park as slight favourites. Thirroul, meanwhile, will need to recover quickly after overcoming Collegians 12–4 in a gruelling Qualifying Final.
Major Semi Final: Corrimal v Thirroul
The latest chapter in the “Battle of the Beaches” will be played with a place in the Harrigan Cup Grand Final on the line.
Corrimal earned direct passage to Week 2 after claiming their first minor premiership since 1989, giving the Cougars an opportunity to freshen up ahead of their biggest game in decades.
In team selection news, Brad Morkus and Tom Carr return to the centres after missing Round 15. Kai Raper Declan Purcell and Kye Wright also feature among the key inclusions for what appears to be a full strength outfit.
The Cougars will also draw confidence from their emphatic 44–14 victory over Thirroul in Round 12, which underlined their status as genuine premiership contenders.
Thirroul arrives battle-hardened after defeating Collegians 12–4 in a physical Qualifying Final. After leading just 4–0 at halftime and being pegged back early in the second half, the Butchers closed out the contest through a Kristian Williams try and a late Tarje Whitford penalty goal. Williams moves from the pine to prop at the expense of Ammon Cairney in the only change to the Butchers starting line-up.
While Corrimal should benefit from the week off, Thirroul will hope the intensity of last weekend’s contest has them primed for another finals battle.
The winner advances directly to the Grand Final, while the loser will receive another opportunity in next week’s Preliminary Final.
Minor Semi Final: Collegians v Dapto
There will be no second chance when Collegians and Dapto meet in the sudden-death Minor Semi Final at Collegians Sporting Complex.
Collegians will be looking to respond after being held to one try in their 12–4 loss to Thirroul. The Collie Dogs remained in the contest for much of the afternoon but could not capitalise on their opportunities against a determined Butchers defence.
Dapto produced the upset of Week 1 by eliminating defending premiers Wests and bringing the Devils’ two-year premiership reign to an end.
The Collie Dogs edged out Dapto 30-26 in their most recent clash, reversing the momentum from Round 10, when Dapto dominated with a commanding 46-8 win. Just a week earlier, in their postponed Round 5 fixture, Dapto narrowly lost 16-14.
Those narrow margins point towards another close encounter. Collegians holds the head-to-head advantage, but Dapto will enter with renewed belief after their breakthrough finals victory.
Collies Coach Jimmy Grehan has made the one change to his starting lineup with Ryan Dodson making a timely retrun at the expense of Kane Watling. Canaries Coach Tom Freebairn has selected an unchanged line-up for the do-or-die battle.
Lower-grade finals
Harrigan Plate
Minor premiers Thirroul return from their opening-week bye to face Corrimal in the Major Semi Final, with the winner advancing directly to the Grand Final.
The Cougars earned their opportunity after defeating defending premiers Wests 22–18 in last weekend’s Qualifying Final.
Wests will now meet Collegians in the sudden-death Minor Semi Final. Collegians kept their season alive with a 30–16 elimination victory over Helensburgh, while the Devils must rebound quickly from their narrow loss to Corrimal.
Harrigan Shield
Minor premiers Norths enter the finals series against the Avondale Greyhounds in the Major Semi Final, with a place in the Grand Final awaiting the winner.
The Greyhounds advanced after overcoming their Avondale neighbours, the Wombats, 34–14 in last weekend’s Qualifying Final.
The Wombats now face Berkeley in the sudden-death Minor Semi Final. The Eagles enter the contest with confidence after shutting out Figtree 18–0 in their elimination clash, setting up a battle in which only one team’s premiership hopes will survive.
Week 2 Finals Fixtures | Saturday, 5 September
Ziems Park
- Harrigan Cup – Corrimal v Thirroul, 3pm
- Harrigan Plate – Thirroul v Corrimal, 1.15pm
Collegians Sporting Complex
- Harrigan Cup – Collegians v Dapto, 3pm
- Harrigan Plate – Wests v Collegians, 1.15pm
- Harrigan Shield – Norths v Avondale Greyhounds, 11.45am
- Harrigan Shield – Avondale Wombats v Berkeley, 10am
Photo credit: Denis Ivaneza