There can only be one Intrust Super Cup winner
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The Intrust Super Cup grand final at Moreton Daily Stadium sees this season’s best two teams – Norths Devils and Wynnum Manly Seagulls – fighting for premiership glory.
Norths were the minor premiers. Wynnum Manly finished second on the ladder. There can only be one winner.
Wynnum Manly coach Adam Brideson said “obviously very happy to get back here and see how we go”.
Wynnum Manly featured in the last Cup grand final to be played in 2019, where they went down to the Burleigh Bears; they last won in 2012 under coach Paul Green.
"We haven't discussed 2019 too much. Obviously there's no point looking back too much. We've got a few similar players, but really excited for this year and hopefully we can come away with a different result,” Brideson said.
Match: Devils v WM Seagulls
Grand Final -
home Team
Devils
1st Position
away Team
WM Seagulls
2nd Position
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
"I'd like to see our spine players, particularly the ones who touch the ball the most, step up. Obviously Sammy Scarlett, Jack Campagnolo and Jayden Berrell have done a fantastic job there for the whole season, so I expect them to do very similar on Sunday.”
Brideson said he was proud of his players, who had all worked hard and performed well throughout the year.
"The year has been really good. Obviously started really hard there and had a few injuries, ups and downs, through that middle third, and we learned a little bit about ourselves… obviously got our squad back together towards the back end of it, and fortunate enough to get here,” Brideson said.
"To get to a grand final, your attack has to be good and you've got to be very defensively good, so we’ve just be true to ourselves and give ourselves a chance."
Norths and Wynnum Manly equally hungry for grand final glory
Norths coach Rohan Smith echoed a similar sentiment.
“We’ve just got to try to be ourselves and give it our best crack,” Smith said.
Norths were last in a grand final in 2010, when they lost to Northern Pride; they last won in 1998.
Smith said he was “really proud” of his squad.
“I think squad is the key word there. We've used 38 players and had a lot of different combinations. We still haven't really settled on what our best spine is... it very much has been a squad effort,” Smith said.
Media conference: Intrust Super Cup grand final
“It's been competitive all year and we've taken the opportunities to give guys a game when they've presented themselves, so that's kept the competitiveness throughout the year. We're in a pretty good place as far as our squad goes. We lost a couple of guys with season-ending injuries a couple of months back but aside from that, we're a pretty healthy Devils roster.
“I just want them all to be themselves and play the way that they play. Play together. That's all I can ask.”
Smith said he had no doubt the grand final would be a tough encounter.
“Wynnum were the yard stick in the 2019 season and obviously very experienced on the big stage… they’ve had another great season this year so I'm expecting them to be everything they are and maybe a bit more on grand final day,” Smith said.
Smith, who was named Cup Coach of the Year, said getting the award did not mean a great deal to him personally, but it was a nice reward for everyone at Norths.
"(Getting coach of the year) doesn't mean a great deal to me personally, but I think it's great as a coaching staff. Obviously good players make good coaches, so all the accolades should go to the players and the hard work they do more so than anyone individual,” Smith said.
"It's my first experience as head coach in a grand final… I've had the fortune of being involved in some grand finals as an assistant coach at NRL level and Under 20s, Under 18s... this one is a bit special. It's been a great journey, the four years at Norths, so looking forward to Sunday.”
