Pain of past to guide title bid

HELENSVALE will make no attempt to shun their history of semi-finals failures but rather use it to fuel their bid to close in on some elusive Gold Coast District Rugby Union silverware.

It’s an approach that helped Broadbeach Robina snap their play-offs hoodoo in Kookaburra Cup cricket back in March, winning the title after five successive semi-final heartbreaks, and the Hogs hope it can work wonders for them too.

Helensvale have just one win from their past seven finals matches dating back to their 19-10 loss to the Gold Coast Eagles in the 2014 decider.

Their sole win in that stretch was a struggle itself, pipping the unfancied Bond Pirates 20-17 in 2017, and their last finals visit brought a 27-26 knockout loss to the Eagles that no one saw coming.

“Obviously we are well aware of our history,” said Hogs legend Hayden McCaa, who will make his 150th appearance for the club at home against Nerang 4.10pm tomorrow.

“The good thing with our boys is that it’s the same guys so they’re all aware of it as well.

“We have got a few new faces but a lot of the guys have been there, done that so everyone is aware of the situation

and what we’ve done in the past and this year is a new story hopefully.

“It’s just about learning from those hard losses that we have had this season and obviously in years gone by.”

Nerang, in their first year back in first grade, will be out to spoil McCaa and Helensvale’s party.

“Just to get into the finals, we are really rapt with our achievement but we still want a bit more,” Bulls coach John Maniapoto said.

The Hogs have sworn to not be ambushed.

“Nerang, with what’s happened at their club this year, they have got a lot to play for so we’re not silly, we know it’s going to be a great game,” McCaa, 31, said.

The winner will proceed to a preliminary final showdown against the loser of the major semi-final between Surfers Paradise and Griffith University Colleges today at Albert Park.