Comets out to finish the job

SOUTHSIDE will start as the hot favourites in tomorrow night’s FNQ Football premier men’s semi-final, but Comets coach Dion Readman is wary of his Edge Hill opponents.

A grand final spot is on the line for the winner, with the top-two sides earning a double chance.

“The outcome will be what it will be,” a philosophical Readman said this week.

“If we play well we know we will do well. All four teams in the finals can win this thing. If we don’t play well we’ll get beaten.”

The Comets lost just two games in the regular season, finishing six points clear of the Tigers to claim the premiership. Readman admitted that finishing on top had been the side’s main aim.

“For us the goal was always the Crad Evans,” he said. “Now we’ve qualified for that and our number one aim is still to win that. Of course we want to win the grand final as well, but our goal at the start of the season was to win the Crad Evans.”

The Comets will be boosted by the return of captain Dylan Soares, who was rested from last Sunday’s clash against Leichhardt, in which the Lions drew 3-3 with Southside.

“Dylan had a niggle and he deserved the week off. We were able to rest five players last week and we also brought off three players throughout the game so we should be fresh this Saturday,” Readman said.

“I’m thinking we’ll be at full strength, which is a nice position to be in.”

Edge Hill counterpart Paul Fitzgerald said he believed his side could secure a grand final berth on Saturday with a win against the Comets.

“We beat them 3-0 at our place earlier this year and it arguably should have been by more,” he said. “They are the top side ... but we can beat them.”

The Tigers will miss captain Pat L’Orange who is away to coach the Cairns West State School’s rugby league team.

“It’s disappointing we won’t be at full strength but we still have a good enough side to win,” Fitzgerald said.

“The club is on a high at the moment after being at the bottom last year.

“The women have been the benchmark at the club in the last five years and it’s great the men are also doing their bit.”

Jayden Cashmere will be a key player for Edge Hill and will probably need to find the back of the net at least once for the Tigers to win.

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