Currumbin Eagles will host the Rugby League Gold Coast QTOP A Grade preliminary final against Southport Tigers this Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles led minor premiers Burleigh 6-4 at halftime in last weekend’s qualifying final, only for the Bears to fire in the second half and secure their place in the grand final with a 26-12 win.
It was a missed opportunity for Currumbin and coach Ryan Gundry was confident that if his side got another crack at Burleigh, they would make the most of it.
“It was one of those games you look back on and think ‘we should of got the win’ but we didn’t,” Gundry said.
“We didn’t execute what we had practiced – and we let them get a roll on through the middle.
“We need to improve on the areas we weren’t so great at last week and we need to get a victory and another crack at Burleigh.”
Despite going down last week, Currumbin have been impressive in recent weeks and defeated Southport in their semi-final a fortnight ago.
Currumbin fell in the preliminary final last season and with all three grades in action on Sunday they will have a big crowd behind them as they attempt to go one step further in 2019.
“We are expecting (Southport) to bring their best game and put it on the park. There is no tomorrow, for both teams,” Gundry said.
“We have all three grades playing which is huge for our club – a big achievement. We are mindful of leading the way as the senior team.”
Out to spoil the party are the resurgent Southport Tigers who had a resounding return to form in last week’s elimination final against Tugun.
Scores were level shortly after the break before the Tigers found their groove and ran away with a 34-20 victory.
“We didn’t start great (but) we were patient,” Tigers coach Steve Dowd said. “Our discipline was good and we built pressure; it was a credit to the playing group.”
It was a much-needed shot of confidence for the Tigers who had lost their previous four games.
After finishing the year in second place, a reinvigorated Southport are an extremely dangerous proposition.
“We need an even amount of possession,” Dowd said. “If they get 30 sets and we get 30 sets, then let the best team win. If we play as a team, we will be hard to beat.”
The Rugby League Gold Coast QTOP A Grade preliminary final will take place at Currumbin’s Galleon Way this Sunday afternoon at 2pm.
The game will be live streamed via the Rugby League Gold Coast Facebook page.
Currumbin and Mudgeeraba will contest the reserve grade prelim at 12.30pm while the Under 20s clash between the Eagles and Runaway Bay is at 11am.
* Main image courtesy of BNS photography
Rugby League Gold Coast QTOP A Grade preliminary final team lists
Currumbin Eagles v Southport Tigers – Sunday, September 15 at Galleon Way - 2pm
Currumbin Eagles
1. Bayley Gill 2. Bayley Desmond 3. Jake Gleeson 4. Blake Morrison 5. Kurt Perry 6. Dan Mortimer 7. Phil Ramage 8. Pele Peletelese 9. Josh Campbell 10. Jarrod Gill 11. Mike Gray 12. Kurtis Dark 13. Harry Wecker 14. Liam Donnelly 15. Harrison Burling 16. Liam Thompson 17. Ben Willetts
Coach: Ryan Gundry
Southport Tigers
1. Zoram Watene 2. Corey Walker 3. Jack Conlan 4. Naz Monsall 5. Barry Ruttley 6. Campbell Pirihi 7. Drumayne Dayberg – Muir 8. Luke Polson 9. Jacob Pottinger 10. Denzal Ngati 11. Tu Whakatihi – Paikea 12. Jaleel Seve – Derbas 13. Simi Ata 14. Liam Hampson 15. Dallas Donnelly 16. Lachlan Douglas 19. Nathan Young
Coach: Stephen Dowd
