Title not a done deal, says coach
SURFERS Paradise playercoaches Tonga Lea’aetoa and Kris Burton have rejected claims the Gold Coast Rugby Union premiership is theirs to lose, despite their latest crushing win.
The fast-starting Dolphins blew the injury-stricken Gold Coast Eagles off the park on Saturday with an 82-0 demolition led by big hauls for centre Nicolas Pavlovski (four tries) and winger Karl Giles (three tries).
Prop Lea’aetoa said the Eagles’ solid first-half effort in the scrum – as well as his own yellow carding – had driven their pack to higher levels.
“The scrum has always been our strength so if anything they probably did us a favour, going into the finals we can sharpen up our skills,” he said.
In a warning shot to their rivals, the Dolphins believe they have even more in the tank when the likes of regular frontrowers Doug Kay and Ezrah Waith return to the side.
“I don’t want to reveal all but we are going to be a different beast come semi-final time,” Lea’aetoa said.
As for suggestions that all pressure is on them – having won 34 games in a row – Lea’aetoa reiterated that his side’s past glories count for little in the present.
Burton added: “I get told that all the time, it’s yours to lose. I say no, we have got to win it, it’s not ours to lose”.
Elsewhere, Colleges toppled Palm Beach Currumbin 31-12, Bond Pirates beat Coolangatta Tweed 35-12 and Coomera forfeited against Helensvale.