Coach's Call: NRL State Championship edition

NRL State Championship 2024

Norths Devils v Newtown Jets

Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney
When: Sunday, October 6 at 12.20pm AEST (1.20pm AEDT)
Broadcast: Live and free on Nine. Also shown on Fox League

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott

"It's been an enjoyable and special time for us since we won the premiership. We were able to share that experience and that moment with everyone that is important to the club - our supporters, our sponsors, our families. Then being around each other since, that was pretty special to share that kind of moment. Even when the boys came in for check-ins on Wednesday last week, you could sense there was a different feeling in the group. When you see your teammate and have that sense of achievement between each other, it's a different feeling and that was pretty cool to see. With that week off in between games, we've had the luxury of being able to prepare a bit better for this game, which gives us a better opportunity. It's been a long time since the Hostplus Cup had the State Championship and to win it would certainly add to a successful year for us as a club. Being able to represent our competition and go down to Sydney to hopefully break that drought that's been there since 2015, it would be pretty special. We do know we're coming up against a very good footy side though and feel like we're heading down there as the underdogs. They're certainly a very good attacking team and have been in the top three defensive teams in their comp. There's about 12 guys playing out of the Cronulla Sharks system, so you have dangerous guys right across the park - Niwhai Puru is obviously their main man while Liam Ison at the back, he's a bit like Trai Fuller, he's a livewire. There's also Jayden Berrell, who has played a lot footy up here and made his NRL debut this year, as well as Braden Hamlin-Uele up front with the other big guy, Tuku Hau Tapuha. We're under no illusion that it's not going to be a really tough game. Both teams will be backing themselves to get the win on the day. We'll be doing the same and hopefully we represent our clubs, families and competition well. We just want to see what we've been looking for all year - a committed and resilient defensive line. The Jets are very good with their attack. We just want guys to compete on plays and have their attitude to be spot on. Regardless of the outcome, we want to see guys keep competing - if it's a kick or a line break or a moment where it's easy to give in, I hope we continue to see that attitude where we don't give in."

Norths Devils' road to the NRL State Championship

Hostplus Cup ladder position: Second

Regular season results: 13 wins, seven losses

Hostplus Cup grand final result: Norths Devils 34 def Redcliffe Dolphins 20

Newtown Jets' road to the NRL State Championship

NSW Cup ladder position: Second

Regular season results: 15 wins, eight losses, one draw

NSW Cup grand final result: Newtown Jets 28 def North Sydney Bears 22

Previous NRL State Championship results

2014: Northern Pride 32 def Penrith Panthers 28
2015: Ipswich Jets 26 def Newcastle Knights 12
2016: Illawarra Cutters 54 def Burleigh Bears 12
2017: Penrith Panthers 42 def PNG Hunters 18
2018: Canterbury Bulldogs 42 def Redcliffe Dolphins 18
2019: Newtown Jets 20 def Burleigh Bears 16
2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19
2021: Cancelled due to COVID-19
2022: Penrith Panthers 44 def Norths Devils 10
2023: South Sydney Rabbitohs 42 def Brisbane Tigers 22