Goondiwindi primed to tackle Wheatmen
The impregnable finals’ defensive line of Goondiwindi faces its ultimate test this afternoon when it looks to reclaim the Wagners Wellcamp Risdon Cup.
The Emus face the Dalby Wheatmen in a 2016 grand final rematch at Clive Berghofer Stadium today to find this year’s premier Downs Rugby team.
Dalby has defended its title admirably on the way to claiming this year’s minor premiership.
But the star-studded Goondiwindi line-up has loomed largely at season’s end to set up a titanic 2017 decider.
The Emus won through to today’s showdown with a 9-3 semi-final win over Dalby at a wind-blown John Ritter Oval two weeks ago.
The titanic struggle relegated Dalby to a sudden-death encounter last week which it survived with a 29-10 win over Toowoomba Rangers.
The Emus and Dalby line-ups are laden with potent attacking weapons.
But Goondiwindi’s uncompromising defence has kept its finals’ line intact against Rangers and the Wheatmen while Dalby has conceded just a lone try to Rangers in its two finals’
matches.
Coach Brett Corish said his team’s defence followed on the back of belief.
“We try to do the little things right and have belief in each other,” Corish said.
“Our motto is to work as a team and have faith in the man next to you.”
Corish said better weather conditions today could lead to a more open match than the semi dogfight at Dalby.
“The (windy) weather conditions played a big part in the Dalby game where both packs just went at it,” Corish said.
“The week off came at the right time for us to rest some sore bodies.
“Dalby is a first-class outfit and I think as defending premiers and minor premiers they still deserve to be grand-final favourites.”