Brothers will bring own brand of grunt
RUGBY UNION BATTLE hungry Brothers will not abandon their reckless premiership pursuit with coach Sven Schaefer declaring his charges the most “pigheaded” team in the competition ahead of their mouthwatering clash with JCU Mariners this Saturday.
The Brethren limped to a 39-all draw against Penrhyn Sharks last weekend in a 100minute marathon with just 14 men on the field for the field final 20 minutes.
Under the rules, the result was good enough for Brothers to advance on account of finishing one spot ahead of Sharks on the ladder during the season. With his players bloodied and bruised from one of the most entertaining games of the season, Schaefer opted to shift training sessions to later in the week, allowing stars Angus Warnock and Marcus Johnston to recover from injuries.
“The thing about Brothers is that the boys are just so pigheaded,” Schaefer said. “You tell them they’re out and they just keep coming. We’ve got that grunt. It doesn’t make for pretty rugby but it captures what we’re about.”
While Schaefer struggled to single out any players, fly-half Thomas Wall-Assan’s per- formance left a lasting impression on the coach.
“He’s been instrumental in influencing the mood of the whole team,” Schaefer said.
“He doesn’t give up. He’s really led us with authority.
“Marcus (Johnston) is always good for a try-saving tackle. I couldn’t give a player of the game because everyone played a role.
“Peter Taylor epitomises our never-say-die attitude.
“The boys would rather faint out of exhaustion than give up. People try to make rugby this elaborate technical game but it’s really about the spirit of your group.”
The Mariners have a patchy recent record against Brothers, having lost 31-17 to the Fish at home in Round 17. But JCU skipper Claude Thomsen said his squad had the firepower to go through to the grand final, despite Brothers adding former Wanderers Warnock, Johnston and Sam Pavlich to their side during the season.
“Last year, we played in the semi-final and they got past us but that was last year,” Thomsen said. “We won’t be getting too amped up and playing the game before Saturday.”
The clash starts at 6pm with Northern Beaches Mudcrabs and Innisfail Vikings playing in the reserve grade preliminary final at 4pm.
THE THING ABOUT BROTHERS IS THAT THE BOYS ARE JUST SO PIGHEADED ... WE’VE GOT THAT GRUNT. IT DOESN’T MAKE FOR PRETTY RUGBY BUT IT CAPTURES WHAT WE’RE ABOUT.
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost