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Last say: BMD Premiership and Mal Meninga Cup grand finals

Grand final day has arrived for the BMD Premiership and Mal Meninga Cup.

In a blockbuster day of rugby league action at Redcliffe's Kayo Stadium, the Tweed Seagulls and Burleigh Bears will first go head-to-head in the Mal Meninga Cup premiership decider before the Mackay Cutters and Norths Devils clash in the BMD Premiership grand final showdown.

Ahead of the two matches, the captains and senior players of each club have shared their final thoughts on what today means, what to expect from their opposition and how important that victory is.

BMD Premiership grand final

Mackay Cutters v Norths Devils

Mackay Cutters captain Emma Manzelmann: The girls last week gave it to the Clydesdales in the semi-final, particularly in the second half. The Clydies sort of stuck it out with us in that first half and I thought it was going to be tight all the way through but the girls pulled their socks up in the second half and got the win. It's been really tough watching from the sidelines with injury and Origin duties... I've had to step back and let the girls get in my roles and do the job. But I like being part of the group and around the girls. I missed the last game we played against Norths so I don't really know what to expect today but I know they'll bring a good performance. They'll be tough and have a strong forward pack. Their halves are very skillful and they can go from one side of the field to the other in four passes so we have to be on our game and ready to fight. To win under the Mackay Cutters banner and bring the trophy home, it would be absolutely fantastic. The whole Mackay town is behind us and supporting us so it would be a gift back to them. 

Norths Devils five-eighth Georgia Hannaway: It was just so positive on the field last week. None of us rushed anything in that semi-final, we were all patient and followed the game plan. All the girls held on as long as they could and we all played a big part in that. It's very important to keep that going today. Mackay are a very hard team, very strong through the middle. If we stay connected, keep to our game plan, hopefully we'll be okay. A win would mean everything to all of us. We've had lots of ups and downs this year but everyone has made the sacrifices. It would be even more worth it in the end. It would mean something special for all of us to get it for Wardy and the effort she's put into all of us. It would mean everything for us to get that win.

Broadcast: Live and free on Qplus.tv and Kayo Freebies

Bailey McConnell and Zane Harrison. Photo: Rikki-Lee Arnold/QRL
Bailey McConnell and Zane Harrison. Photo: Rikki-Lee Arnold/QRL

Mal Meninga Cup grand final

Tweed Seagulls v Burleigh Bears

Tweed Seagulls captain Zane Harrison: Burleigh have been the benchmark this season and we know we have to come to play today. We have to have our best game. Anyone can win on any day, especially the grand final. We have to be at our best. To win it, it would be a privilege. We entered the comp thinking we could win this and we're here now. We have one shot to seal the deal so it would mean the world to me to win this grand final and bring it back to Tweed. 

Burleigh Bears captain Bailey McConnell: We really came together and bought into that semi-final against Redcliffe. We played one of our best games all year and hopefully we can put together another good performance in the grand final. Tweed are good right across the board. They have good halves who control the game well and their middle is obviously very strong. That's one of the biggest things we have to control. Their outside backs are pretty dangerous as well. It would mean so much to the club to win it. It would be the first Burleigh Bears Mal Meninga Cup premiership. Against Tweed as well, it's always been that rivalry for years so it's obviously a very big game to get up for and it would mean a lot.

Broadcast: Live and free on Qplus.tv and Kayo Freebies

 

Acknowledgement of Country

Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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