Two of the best battle it out for Cup glory
VERY little separates Kirwan and Ignatius Park on the field.
On their day they can beat any other schoolboys team in the country, and in past years that is what they have done.
But only one team will lift the Aaron Payne Cup at fulltime in today’s grand final, which will hand the winner a ticket to next week’s state final against the victor of the Langer Cup final between Palm Beach Currumbin and Keebra Park.
For Kirwan, the game will be won or lost in the forwards.
The Bears have a pack that is near impossible to stop when at full steam.
And with newly minted Michael Morgan Medallist Jeremiah Nanai leading the way, it has torn through opposition defences like butter during the Aaron Payne Cup’s regular season.
Ignatius Park has identified its kicking game and finish to sets as among the keys in the final, which is the first played between Kirwan and Ignatius Park since 2018.
“We have to try and keep Kirwan on the back foot,” Iggy Park coach Steve Lansley said.
“We think they are very dangerous when they are moving forward.
“We have to control early tackles on the set, and we have to really focus on the end of our sets and our kicking game.
“If you let Kirwan get momentum, they can accumulate points very quickly, which other teams have found out.”
Kirwan coach Todd Wilson said Kirwan’s big men had to lay the foundation for their team’s performance.
“There are no excuses, we don’t lack any firepower,’’ he said. “We just have to make sure they think clearly. and not let emotions take over.”
Iggy Park was prevented from defending its Confraternity Shield title because of COVID-19 restrictions, and suffered the frustration of watching Kirwan win last year’s NRL Schoolboys Cup.
Lansley said his players were hungry to make their own mark in 2020.
“It’s the only chance for these boys to put some silverware in the cupboard, and they want to leave some history for the school,” he said.
“We’d love the opportunity to play in a state final, but first we have top play against Kirwan which is one of the best footy schools in Australia.”