Collegians skipper Blake Phillips will notch up a remarkable fifth premiership should his beloved Dogs defeat Thirroul in this Saturday’s Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup Grand Final.
While he has picked up plenty of silverware in his stellar career, including at Helensburgh (2015) and Collegians (2017, 2019, and 2022), the veteran forward says they don’t get any easier.
“It’s always exciting the week, the buildup but I’ve had to lose two before I won four,” Phillips explains.
“I’ve still got that thought in the back of my mind, so I’m trying to nail everything in preparation for this Saturday and hopefully come away with my fifth that would be unreal.”
Unique Three-peat
A win for the defending premiers would complete an unusual hat-trick five years in the making after the first-grade competition was on hold during two Covid-interrupted seasons in 2021-22.
Phillips says their chances of going back-to-back have been helped by maintaining the core group from last year and they are hungry for more.
“A couple of players have left from last year’s grand final side, but the guys that have come in have done a superb job.
“The young guys that have come in from 18s, and a few from reserve grade have now stepped up into first grade, have built our team, and strengthened us this year to allow us to be in this position again.”
One of those new players is fullback Callum Gromek, who had been weighing up a season in the NSW Cup with the Roosters before committing to Collegians.
“We knew at the end of last year we were losing Alec Reid, who was a big part of our team at the back.
“We put our heads together to see who would fill the spot at fullback, and then Cal Gromek’s come, and he’s been outstanding all year.
“He’s been a massive part of our team, saving tries, scoring tries. He does it all.”
The post-Fien era
Apart from new squad members, the club had to deal with the departure of three-time premiership-winning coach Nathan Fien to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, appointing Peter Hooper to fill his big shoes.
“Hoops has done a great job. It was always going to be a big ask to go to another grand final after Nathan Fien.
“Even just to coach after Nathan Fien and where he got us to as a team is a big ask, but Hoops has chimed in perfectly and got us here again.
“He’s put a lot of belief in the team, and it showed in our footy throughout the year.”
Read More>>Butchers win sets up decider with Collies
Mate against mate
Turning to their grand final opponents, Phillips knows their danger men all too well, having played in premiership-winning sides with Butchers five-eighth Jarrod Boyle and fullback Wayne Bremner.
“I’m still good mates with Wayne and Boyley. We always catch up and chat about that 2015 Grand Final win at the Burgh, and I got lucky enough that Boyley came down to Collies, and I won two with him as well.
‘It’s going to be weird playing a grand final against them, but nonetheless, there’s going to have to be a loser, and hopefully it’s them”.
With Bremner under a fitness cloud after injuring his knee in last week’s Preliminary Final, Phillips knows there will be plenty of emotion around the Butchers if he does make it to the decider.
“There’s whispers around that it could be Brem’s last game, so hopefully he’s fit to go.
“He’s had a great career, so it’s only fitting for him to go out in a grand final.”
While he has the utmost respect for the Butchers pair and hopes they can put their best side on the park for the decider, Phillips says no love will be lost for either come Saturday.
“There won’t be a soft spot for them. I just hope they both have a good game but not too good a game.”
Illawarra Rugby League Grand Finals | Saturday 2 September | WIN Stadium, Wollongong
- Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup – Collegians v Thirroul | 3pm
- Mojo Homes First Division – Wests v Corrimal | 1:15pm
- Harrigan Shield (2nd Division) – Berkeley v Avondale | 11:30am
- Mojo Homes Under 18’s – Collegians v Thirroul | 9:45am
