Friendship on hold
BROADBEACH and Helensvale will put aside their friendly Gold Coast relationship this weekend as they battle to replicate their 2017 heroics in the Premier League Queensland finals.
After fighting for the Premier Grade crown in last year’s grand final, the sides will again be among the title favourites at five-team, two-day playoffs at Club Helensvale.
Having finished fourth on the ladder, defending champion Broadbeach will face Hamilton in a do-or-die playoff at noon today, while secondplaced Helensvale will meet Kawana in the qualifying final at the same time.
The Coast neighbours share close ties, but Broadbeach veteran Ryan Bester, 33, said any intracity pleasantries would be put on hold for two days.
“The last few years we’ve probably been the best two clubs in the state. It’s a friendly rivalry (but) if we don’t win it, it doesn’t really matter who does,” the Canadian, who will compete at his fifth Commonwealth Games next month, said.
“We’re all good friends and we see each other all the time. Helensvale has actually been practising at our club in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games.
“They seem to have all the Australian players and we have all the international players playing for us. Helensvale would be close to being the favourites but anything can happen, all the teams are strong.”
Broadbeach appeared on track for the minor premiership until a loss in the secondlast round sent it tumbling from first to fifth.
However, Bester believes the 12-strong team can bounce back when it matters most.
“I’m pretty confident. It’s obviously going to be a very hard weekend but if we play how we can play we’re looking at good things on Sunday. It’s hard to get to the top and it’s even harder to stay there because everyone’s trying to knock you off.
“(The key is) just having all 12 guys going well. You can’t have a weak player or two against the standard we’ll be playing.”
The minor and major semifinals will be played at 5pm today, with the preliminary final (9am) and grand final (1pm) tomorrow.