THUMPING WIN COULD LEAVE HOGS UNDERDONE
IT was the 70-0 win they didn’t need, but Helensvale coach Rico Gear is confident Saturday’s thrashing of Palm Beach Currumbin will not harm their quest to topple Gold Coast District Rugby Union frontrunners Colleges this weekend.
Still in the minor premiership hunt, the Hogs dominated from start to finish at home to the Alleygators at the weekend, running in 10 tries en route to their 10th win of the season.
However, with high-flying Colleges lying in wait in Round 18, former All Black Gear admits the ease of the victory could leave his troops underdone for their seasondefining clash.
“I was really disappointed with the way Palm Beach played,” Gear, who oversaw a 52-7 victory over the Alleygators last month, said.
“They gave us a not bad sort of run a month ago where we had to work really hard for our points, but it just seemed like they didn’t really front yesterday. So from that point of view, it would have been nice to have a harder
hitout but at the same time we will certainly take a lot of value out of the game in terms of people knowing their roles and what we trained for.
“One thing I’ve realised is our players know the teams extremely well based on the past so they’re under no illusion what sort of challenge Colleges bring this weekend.”
Gear sung the praises of flanker and captain Sean Finigan for his ball-carrying, while brother Jack Finigan also starred with a hat-trick.
In Saturday’s other Phil Temperton Cup fixtures, Colleges flexed their muscle with a 61-5 thumping of Gold Coast Eagles.
Bond University were forced to forfeit against Surfers Paradise after a host of backline injuries left them unable to field a full side.