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Sport

24 July, 2024

Wanderers peak late but Townies keen to turn the tables in decider

Will the Devils make it a threepeat or will Townies turn the tables after two straight grand final losses?

By Matt Nicholls

Town captain Harlem Russell and Wanderers skipper Pekz Brown will be key players for their sides in the men’s grand final on Saturday night.
Town captain Harlem Russell and Wanderers skipper Pekz Brown will be key players for their sides in the men’s grand final on Saturday night.

Wanderers fans are hoping that the momentum from Saturday’s preliminary final win against Brothers will carry into the grand final against Townies and deliver them a third straight premiership.

Town supporters are hoping that a week off after a huge comeback to secure the grand final position will have them fresh and ready to fire at their Mount Isa Rugby League rivals.

This is the fifth year in a row the two sides have met in the A-grade men’s grand final and while the Devils have taken recent honours, Townies coach John Doyle says he’s yet to lose a grand final, having previously led the Lions to two premierships in as many seasons.

“I don’t plan on changing that record on Saturday,” Doyle told North West Weekly.

Despite his confidence, both coaches believe the game will be hard fought on Saturday night.

Tim O’Sullivan said his boys might have found their form at the right time, having blitzed Brothers 46-30 in the preliminary final.

“It was the best first half of footy I’ve seen us put in for a while,” he said on Sunday morning.

“We know that it was a whole new competition once that finals started and that’s the attitude we have taken into the grand final.”

The last time these two sides met, Townies won 52-6.

However, the ledger is closer across the season.

Wanderers won the first game 36-30, Town claimed the second contest 30-20, while they drew 24-24 in their third battle.

The recent contests have gone in the Lions’ favour, with Town winning 28-6 in round 10, which was followed by the 52-6 rout.

Playmaker and captain Haupeke “Pekz” Brown will be a key man for Wanderers if they are to have any hope of dismantling Townies.

His ability to create space and break the lines with ball in hand is hard to stop when he’s on song and the Devils will need him singing.

O’Sullivan said he was hoping that George Hema and Troy Kumsing would back up their efforts from the preliminary final, which helped pave the way for victory.

He also said utility back Reagan Thatcher would be used in various positions on Saturday night to keep Townies on their toes.

The Lions had three players on Outback Queensland duties for the final round of the season and they will be required to step up in the big dance, Doyle said

Captain Harlem Russell, Kaitu Ione and Simeona Tala-Sio must be the leaders.

“They are our rep players and they really need to step up because they’ve played at that higher level,” Doyle said.

“We are lucky to have 32 guys who are qualified for the final but we can only pick 20, so there will be some tough decisions made at selection during the week.”

Doyle said one of his starters had already set the tone for the week by declaring himself unavailable for the grand final.

“He was carrying an injury but he sent me a message telling me to give his spot to someone else,” the coach said.

“That shows what we are about this season ... he could have easily tried to take the injury into the grand final.”

Town will look to the halves pair of Russell and Marty Paulson to put Wanderers on the back foot.

“Harlem is a strong runner and a smart footballer, while Marty is a strong general. If things are getting flustered he can settle things down a bit,” Doyle said.

Kick-off for the men’s final is expected to be at 6pm.

Doyle said he was hoping for a big crowd, with the HostPlus Cup game between the Townsville Blackhawks and Brisbane Tigers to serve as a curtain-raiser.

“I think it’s great that we’ve got a Q-Cup game on before us because that will get a few more through the gates and then those boys will be able to sit back and watch some good country footy afterwards,” he said.

“Our two sides have got plenty of talented footballers on the park.”

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