TOP DOGS AT BOTH ENDS

IT has been a dream first season for captain-coach for Luke Fleming – but a reserve grade premiership would be the icing on the cake.

Brothers claimed the minor premiership on the back of defence, giving up just 13.5 points per game courtesy of the blue and white wall.

The forward pack smashed, bashed and crashed through premiership rivals.

And while it has looked good on the field, it is the attitude off of it that has impressed Fleming.

“We had two weeks off leading into it

. . . we had every right to be underdone,” Fleming said.

“We had every right to play rusty or clunky but they came out and played one of our best all year, it’s put it to bed.”

Brothers will face Innisfail, with the Leprechauns knocking out Southern Suburbs with a 32-8 preliminary final win.

It is the only Innisfail team in the grand final this year, adding more motivation to Ken Laza’s team.

Laza’s squad is filled with big game experience, with only three players having not featured in a grand final last year.

And the losses on that day have served as motivation for this crop.

“It’s been a big thing for the boys, what happened last year,” he said.

“We’ve talked about what happened last year and how we want to make it right this time.”

Brothers defeated Innisfail 44-24 in the major semi-final, and Laza said his team had learned enough to reverse that result.

Should Fleming triumph, it will give the club a chance to win both senior titles.

“It would mean a good deal,” he said. “To come away with a GF win would be special. They don’t come around too often, so you have to make the most of it.”