Young Lions impress with grand final bow in first competition
A GRAND final appearance in their first “crack” at competitive league was more than a talented team of Townsville juniors could have hoped for.
Playing at the Paul Bowman Challenge in Proserpine last weekend, Western Lions under-9 Roar side made every post a winner to finish second in the state.
Playing eight pool games followed by finals, coach Steven Goodhew said the young side played out of their skins to claim a big scalp on an undefeated run to the grand final.
“They went down there just for a fun weekend,” Goodhew said.
“They’re just a really good mob of young kids and they really dug in as mates and had a good time.
“Some of the big clubs like Redcliffe Dolphins were there, and they knocked them (Redcliffe) over in the pool (rounds).
“Then they started to believe in themselves and really stuck together from there.”
Not daunted by the occasion, the side continued to lift before running out of puff in the grand final in a 24-16 loss to Coomera Cutters.
“It was a massive achievement to make that final and to finish second best team in the state was a really big thing for them,” Goodhew said.
“They stuck together and came together as mates and they just didn’t want to let each other down.”
The Western Lions outfits from under-9s took part in the carnival, which featured some 80 teams from across the state.
Hoping to keep the core of the side together in a move up to under-10s next year, Goodhew said the grand final result would set the side up for a tilt at “redemption” at the Gorden Tallis Cup next season.
Now they’ve had a taste of competitive league, Goodhew was convinced the side would continue to chase success.
“After their first time having a crack at it, their emotions were really high and it brought something else out of the kids,” he said.