Tough day for flanker
Dylan has to front up to Easts beasts … and wife
DYLAN Rowe has played rugby all around the world but says the Queensland Premier competition is the most physical.
The Bond University vice-captain is gearing up for another bruising encounter in Sunday’s preliminary final against Easts at Ballymore Stadium.
“I’ve played in Europe and in three different competitions in Australia and I think Queensland is the most physical competition,” Rowe, 29, said.
“There are lots of really big bodies, guys who like to have a crack at each other in every breakdown, hit-up and tackle.
“Bond is traditionally a smaller team but we tackle our hearts out. Easts have a big pack, they like contact, they like to hit things and carry hard.
“We are expecting another big physical match. We’ll be up for it. We’ve beaten them before, so we have the belief, we just need to execute.”
The flanker has been receiving support from players from opposition Brisbane teams ahead of the final.
Bond University is determined for its breakthrough season not to end one game short of a grand final against
University of Queensland next week.
“We have finally got the monkey off our back and made finals, now we are here to stay,” Rowe said.
“The goal is to win the grand final. We have the cattle to do that, we have some Ferraris in the backline and bruisers in the pack, so we have the ingredients for a championship team.
“The job is not done. We made history to be the first Bond premier team to make finals but we want to make history as the first Bond team to win the comp.”
Rowe was meant to be celebrating his one-year wedding anniversary on Sunday but rugby has intervened.
“We actually planned to get married on the 25th October because it was far away enough from any footy,” he said. “There was no footy in Europe, we thought it would be a safe date but COVID has thrown a monkey wrench into that.
“Turns out we are playing finals on my first wedding anniversary, she wasn’t too pleased with that. If we get the win, we can celebrate it properly.
“If not, she’ll have to put up with a few beers at the clubhouse first.”