Arkell to lead way for Bay final push
verware this time around. Tugun won seven matches in a row before their streak was snapped by minor premiers Burleigh 24-4 in the grand final qualifier last weekend.
Standing in their way of a seventh straight grand final appearance now is a resurgent Runaway Bay outfit pushing for their first AGrade title since 2005.
The rivals have been closely matched throughout the year. Both took 12 regular season wins – one apiece against each other, with both games separated by two points or less – before Tugun stamped their authority with a 34-12 qualifying final victory a fortnight ago.
“Everyone is pumped,” Arkell said of the feeling around the club, whose reserve grade team have already secured entry into the decider.
Arkell first joined the Seagulls as a 13-year-old and, after an 18-month stint in the Cronulla system, returned five seasons ago.
He played second fiddle to halves partner Conner Toia last season but with Toia switching to Souths Logan to play Queensland Cup, the responsibility has fallen to Ar- kell to steer the ship. The pressure has further been heaped on the 24-year-old by the lack of playmaking experience beside him.
Henry Chan-Ting, better known as a lock or hooker, has been pitched into the halves role after centre Jamie Anderson was previously tried there.
“It has sort of forced me to take that leadership role,” Arkell said.
“I actually am (enjoying it), it’s a bit of pressure but I think it’s going good.”
He expects the Seahawks home fans at Boyd St will be in full flight for the 2pm kickoff tomorrow.
“The crowd gets involved real good,” he laughed.
“Our forwards are our main weapon.
“They are real physical our pack, so if they put their pack down early I think we will find it easier out wide.”
Arkell put the squad’s surge up the GCRL pecking order this season down to an improved roster and a tighter overall playing group. AFTER Cronulla had let the cat out of the bag hours earlier, the Warriors last night were forced to confirm Sharks winger Gerard Beale has signed a three-year deal with the NRL club from 2018.
In a statement released after Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan let slip the news to media, the Warriors officially welcomed the 27-year-old 2016 premiership winner.
Flanagan surprisingly volunteered to reporters that the 10-time Kiwi international had told teammates at training this week that he would be leaving at season’s end. The news comes just days before the Sharks’ elimination final against North Queensland at Allianz Stadium.
“Gerard Beale spoke to the group this week. He’s moving on to the Warriors for three years,” Flanagan said.
“He said it’s not our last game this weekend – we’re not approaching it as that.”
Beale had been linked to a Warriors move along with Brisbane prop Adam Blair.