After 16 weeks of the home and away season and an enthralling finals series so far, here’s our grand final match ups for the Harrigan Premiership and lower grades …Proudly supported by FEEL GOOD…i98!
Harrigan Premiership | 3pm
- Wests v Thirroul
Wests were the first team to qualify for this year’s Harrigan Premiership grand final after beating minor premiers De La Salle 12-10 in the major semifinal.
The Devils have hit their stride in the run to the finals, with five wins and a draw from their last six starts, including two wins over De La Salle and victories over Dapto and Collegians in the home and away series. A 10-all draw with Thirroul in Round 12 is the only minor blemish in a near-perfect preparation. Wests last hoisted the first grade trophy in 2018.
The Butchers come into Saturday’s decider after two clinical displays of sudden-death semifinal footy in consecutive weeks against De La Salle and Collegians.
The defending premiers are playing for a place in the club’s history, attempting to be the first team to go back-to-back. They will also look to send wily veteran Jarrod Boyle out on a winning note.
Should the Butchers claim victory in the decider, Boyle will collect his fifth Illawarra Rugby League premiership, adding to his impressive silverware collection, including Helensburgh Tigers (2015), Collegians (2017 & 2019), and Thirroul (2023).
Head-to-Head
- Wests 16 – Thirroul 10 (Round 1)
- Thirroul 26 – Wests 12 (Round 7)
- Thirroul 10 – Wests 10 (Round 12)
Harrigan Plate | 1.15pm
- Wests v Berkeley
The Devils and Berkeley have dominated the Harrigan Plate competition, winning all but one game each to finish on equal points at the head of the table after the regular season.
The Devils fought hard to win 26-18 over Berkeley in the major semifinal two weeks ago, their second win over the Eagles this season.
The win earned them a place in the decider and sent the Eagles to a sudden-death play-off against the Avondale Wombats.
The Eagles escaped with a narrow 21-20 come-from-behind victory over the Wombats in last week’s preliminary final to book a rematch with their nemesis.
Head-to-Head
- Wests 36 – Berkeley 6 (Round 8)
- Wests 26 – Berkeley 18 (Qualifying Semifinal)
Harrigan Shield | 11.30am
- Avondale Greyhounds v Figtree
Avondale Greyhounds went through the regular season of the Harrigan Shield undefeated, amassing 479 points for and just 124 against, including a win over their grand final opponents, Figtree Crushers, in Round 12.
The Greyhounds continued their stellar form in the qualifying semifinal, scoring 24 unanswered points over the Crushers to advance to the grand final.
The Crushers had little trouble accounting for Windang 36-16 in the Prelim Final to set up another showdown with the Greyhounds.
Head-to-Head
- Avondale Greyhounds 32 – Figtree 10 (Round 12)
- Avondale Greyhounds 24 – Figtree 0 (Qualifying Semifinal
Southern Corridor U18’s | 10am
- Thirroul v Aquinas Colts
Thirroul entered the playoffs with a 9-2 win/loss record after the home and away series. They qualified for the decider after beating Wests 46-4 in their semifinal clash.
Illawarra Steelers SG Ball players Jackson Smith, Letham Manago, and Aaymon Fitzgibbon lead the charge for the Butchers.
Their opponents, Aquinas Colts, caused a boilover by defeating minor premiers St Johns Bosco 26-20 in their semifinal clash.
The Bulldogs had beaten the Colts 24-10 and 30-10 in their two previous meetings in the regular season.
The Butchers have won all three encounters against the Colts this year, giving them a slight edge heading into the decider.
Head-to-Head
- Thirroul 20 – Aquinas Colts 6 (Round 4)
- Thirroul 18 – Aquinas Colts 16 (Round 9)
- Thirroul 32 – Aquinas Colts 10 (Round 11)