Grand final: Kerr and Keeley on the fierce Dolphins rivalry

The rivalry between Redcliffe Dolphins and Norths Devils is fierce.

Both are in the Hostplus Cup grand final, both Dolphins NRL affiliates. Playing at Kayo Stadium at Redcliffe, the atmosphere on Sunday will be electric.

Two Dolphins NRL guns who have been named to play in the contest are prop Josh Kerr, for Redcliffe, and second rower Oryn Keeley, for Norths.

Kerr, who grew up playing for Redcliffe and dreaming of playing Cup for the club, is pumped to don the red and white in a grand final, and Keeley is determined to be part of shattering Kerr’s strong desire to win.

Kerr, an NRL regular for the Dolphins who has scored four tries during his three Cup games this year, said playing in the grand final would be “so special”.

“I grew up at this club… my goal as a junior was to play Cup for this team so to be able to play a handful of games and be in a grand final is pretty special,” the effervescent prop said.

“It’s pretty cool being part of it but also cool seeing the people I grew up with - Peter Robinson, Steve Smith, Grant Cleal… Crusher, Tyson Cleal - just to be part of this, with everyone I grew up with, and be part of the Cup grand final is pretty special.”

Kerr said having two Dolphins NRL affiliate teams in the Cup grand final was “a pretty good look for our club”.

“It shows how good our pathways are going… obviously both clubs have got a deep history within the Cup competition and both have been playing well and a lot of those blokes have played NRL because they’re doing so well,” Kerr said.

“You don’t want to say it too much but the Brisbane Broncos are obviously a club that has been around quite a while and has rich history with the clubs and for a club that’s in their second year in their NRL infancy, to have two of their feeder teams come through into the grand final, it’s promising signs for the future.

“There’s so much talent. Not to single anyone out, the whole team is amazing, but Thomas Casey, the little fella … when I grew up, you watched Darren Lockyer and before him Alfie Langer… people who are probably not the biggest in stature but had the biggest ticker… the desire to play well for your teammates… that’s Thomas Casey. He’s someone people should look out for, definitely now and in the future.

“There’s a whole host of boys… Harrison Graham, Valynce Te Whare, Latrell Siegwalt.”

Kerr said Redcliffe was focused on “enjoying every moment this week, grand final week”.

“I just want to be who I am and bring energy. Just because it’s a bigger game, you don’t want to do anything differently,” the Indigenous All Stars representative said.

“I want to stick to what works and that’s just me bringing energy, being loud, having a good time, having fun and making sure when we finish this week – win or lose – that it was a memorable week. To do that, we need to put our best foot forward. Go out and have fun with the boys.”

Keeley, who has lined up for Norths 14 times this year and the Dolphins NRL six times, said it felt good to be playing in a grand final and he could not wait to rip in.

“You work hard for it so very excited,” the 21-year-old second rower said.

“I believe the squad is one that can do it. We're well-connected. I really think we have a good opportunity. I hope we stick to our processes and come out on top.”

Keeley – who described Cup football as very physical - said the playing group was inspired by Cup veteran and captain Kierran Moseley to perform at their best.

“I think our skipper Kierran Moseley leads us really well and everyone gets on the back of him,” Keeley said.

“I think we’ve got strike everywhere but I feel like they do too. They finished on the same points as us and they just beat Northern Pride so if anything, we need to be on our game.

“It’s massive for The Dolphins. For the boys that don’t play NRL and go back to Cup teams... you’re best mates and then you go out on the footy field to verse each other… it’s awesome. It’s a good opportunity. To do it in a grand final is even better.

“I think at the end of the day you want to perform and there’s always going to be a bit of banter but everyone’s well-connected at the Dolphins so when you go back to Cup, it’s about connecting with those boys and playing for them.

“On Sunday, the goal is to stick to the process for myself… running hard, making my tackles. The little moments, the little one percenters that we talk about all year… you train all year for it.

“I just want my teammates to all do the same thing and hopefully there’s a good outcome at the end. We just need to do our job and do what we’ve done all year.

“May the best team win. Go Norths.”