Eagles book pre-season finale with Bears

A PRE-SEASON game had no business being so exciting.

It took an emergency meeting of the Rugby League Gold Coast brains trust on Monday morning to decide which team would progress through to the pre-season decider, after Currumbin and Tugun’s enthralling 26-26 draw on Sunday.

Tugun dominated the first half to take a three-try lead into the break, before Currumbin came storming back in the second stanza to level the scores with just minutes remaining.

“After the first round, and a lot of 30 and 40-point wins … someone said to me they hoped the second round would be a lot closer and well, it was,” Eagles coach Matt Geyer said.

“But it couldn’t have been further from a close game early.

Burleigh hooker Jordan Scott is part of the A-Grade squad. Picture: Steve Holland

“Tugun was beating us maybe 26-4 – they were really doing a job on us. But we came good in the second half.”

In the end it was Currumbin, courtesy of a superior forand-against, given the green light to host Burleigh in the $2000 grand final this weekend – though Geyer said there was still some confusion as to which club would get hosting rights.

Wherever the final is played, the Eagles boss said he would not stray away from the pre-season philosophy he had so far employed, centred around blooding players in AGrade.

“This will be our toughest challenge and it’s worked out well for us,” Geyer said.

“I’m far from walking into the club and saying here’s my 17 for round one. I think we’re still in a discovery phase and it’s been great so far.”

Currumbin drew with Tugun on Sunday. Pic: Mike Batterham