BEARS SAY BRING ON ANOTHER GF

Litchfield into its third consecutive NRL NT title decider after thrilling win

LITCHFIELD put itself in the driver’s seat for a third NRL NT A-grade premiership in as many years with a tightly contested 25-18 win over Palmerston in the major semi-final.

Palmerston had the better of the Bears through the season, but Litchfield’s forwards, particularly Dillan Vanderburg, found another level in the semi-final.

Litchfield was first to score after 10 minutes of back-andforth, with Clint Chettle crossing after chasing a big kick from Matt Goodfellow.

Palmerston was quick to reply, with Brad Hansen surging through the Bears’ defence to put his side on the board. But the Bears would go on to dominate the remainder of the first half, scoring three without reply through Luke Beatty, Robert Campbell and Daniel Gallow. Raiders leapt right into the second half, with

Hansen crossing again after several strong phases and Anthony Orrell not long after.

With points hard to come by and the sides still close, the Bears opted for a penalty kick, Goodfellow slotting the ball through the posts to put his side six points ahead with five minutes left.

Goodfellow would be in the scoring again only minutes later with a field goal putting the game to bed, a move which captain Luke Mahood put down to game management.

“To come away with the win with no injuries was exactly what we were after,” he told the Sunday Territorian.

“To be in the grand final for the third year in a row, it’s great.” Litchfield will move on to another premiership decider, while the previously undefeated Palmerston will head to the preliminary final against Brothers, who beat Nightcliff 18-16 in the elimination semifinal.