Injuries won’t dampen premiers’ confidence as they face rampant Lions Crushers digging deep
THE Herbert River Crushers have no problem adopting a siege mentality ahead of tomorrow’s major semi- final against the Western Lions.
The Crushers scored one of their gutsiest wins in recent history after overcoming a 16- 2 deficit against Brothers in last weekend’s qualifying final to win 18- 16.
The win earned Herbert River a place in tomorrow’s major semi that comes with the prize of a direct path to the A grade grand final, but Crushers president Joe Pennisi knows a battle lies ahead.
Backrowers Luke La Rosa and Drew Chinotti have been forced into the centres as a result of injuries to Lindsey Kirk and Lachlan La Rosa, and star backrower Steven Devietti is also out for the season with a broken thumb.
“We can’t call on our reserves because they’re stretched as well,” Pennisi said. “But we’ll be out there having a dig.
“We just want to have that same energy we had last week, and we have a team that knows how to win through adversity.
“A lot of teams can’t do that.”
The Crushers won last year’s premiership but this year’s undoubted pacesetters have been the Lions, who won the minor premiership and bypassed last weekend’s first week of finals.
The Lions have been unbeaten since May after winning their past nine straight games, the last a 30- 26 victory over the Crushers in Ingham.
“The Lions are a great side and they can put 40 points on before you know it,” Pennisi said.
Brothers will host Centrals in the knockout A grade semifinal, which sees the winner progress to the preliminary final.
Centrals were too strong for Burdekin in last weekend’s elimination final, and Brothers coach Dave Ackers is wary of a Tigers outfit that is finding momentum.
“It should be a really tough game of footy,” he said.
“We’ll have to play better than we did last week and hopefully we learned some lessons.
“I guess it’s a reward to play at home after finishing the season in second place, but to be honest every team loves playing at Brothers.”
Herbert River’s Mitchell Seri last night won his third Dr Rod Ward medal for the TDRL’s A Grade player of the year at last night’s end of season awards.
The Crushers halfback saw of competition from seven other contenders during a Dally M- style points count at last night’s awards.
TDRL finals week Tomorrow.
Under- 18s: 2pm Western Lions v Brothers, Sports Reserve ( field 2)
Reserves: 12.30pm Centrals v Burdekin, Sports Reserve ( field 2); 1.20pm Herbert River v Brothers, Jack Manski Oval.
A Grade: 3pm Brothers v Centrals, Jack Manski Oval; 3.30pm Western Lions v Herbert River, Sports Reserve ( field 2) two.