With the home and away rounds of the Harrigan Premiership season behind us, the IRL’s Joshua Houldin looks at what’s in store for the top four sides heading into the Finals.
De La Ready To Delight
Back-to-back minor premiers, De La Salle is out to avenge its downfall in last year’s campaign. A win against second-spot Western Devils would secure them a week off and a ticket to the Grand Final.
De La Salle Lock and Vice-Captain of the side Jackson Stewart says that despite being crowned as minor premiers, it means nothing now heading into finals time.
“It’s good to have the minor premiership, but it means nothing now after last year.
“We came in pretty hot, came undone in the finals.
“This year, we’ve taken things a bit differently, rested a few blokes the last few weeks.
“We should have a full squad, so no excuses,” Stewart said.
Devils Look To Go Deep
The Wests Devils will travel deep into De La Salle’s territory to secure a direct seat in the Grand Final.
Devils Hooker Joseph Dickson believes his side has what it takes after coming away with a victory the last time these sides met.
“It’s good to know we can beat every team on our day; it’ll be a big performance to get the job done on the weekend.
“Very important… if you get the win, it gives you the week off and let your body rest and just get ready and prepare for the big dance.
“Making the grand final will be huge, but I want to go one better than that,” Dickson said.
Harrigan Premiership – Qualifying Semi-Final
- De La Salle (1) v Wests (2) | Sunday, 25 August, Forshaw Oval. Kick-off 2pm
Butchers Back-To-Back?
Finishing fourth in last year’s competition and going all the way to win it, reigning premiers Thirroul Butchers will hope to go back-to-back after finishing outside the top two yet again.
Butchers Captain Hayden Crosland hopes to replicate last year’s success from a similar position. The premiership-winning skipper says his side’s form tends to peak this time of year.
“Once you get into finals, a new competition starts.
“We would’ve liked, obviously, to have two bites of the cherry, but couldn’t happen this year, but we will take confidence in the fact that we did it last year.
“Last year, we found our best footy late, so we’ll be hoping to find our best footy late again this season.
“Situation is in our favour getting to play at Thirroul,” Crosland said.
Clean Slate For Collies
After beating a competitive Dapto side for fourth position, Collegians are set to make the trip north to Thirroul in a much-anticipated do-or-die Grand Final rematch.
Collegians back row Charly Runciman says despite his side’s season being disrupted by injuries and mixed form, they are treating finals footy as a fresh opportunity to go one step further than that of last year.
“It’s a new season now. We are preparing and looking forward to this week. We know we have a few things to improve.
“We had a bit of a disjointed year with a few injuries and stuff that we haven’t had over the last couple of years.
“We’ve just got to take it [finals] as a clean slate; over the last two years, they (Thirroul) came from the second final to win, and we came from the second final to win, so it’s not out of the ordinary.
Reflecting on last year’s defeat in the decider at the hands of this week’s opponents, Runciman thinks there will be no residual effect heading into the sudden-death semifinal.
“Nah, I think it [last year’s final] is long gone. I think everything has put it behind us, and we’re just concentrating on this weekend,” Runciman said.
Harrigan Premiership – Elimination Semi-Final
- Thirroul (3) v Collies (4) | Saturday, 24 August, Gibson Park. Kick-off 3pm.
