Whole Hog is Gators’ mission
CRUNCH time has arrived for the Helensvale Hogs and Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators.
The winner of their highly anticipated clash, pitting second on the ladder against third, will secure a guaranteed finals berth with one week remaining in the season.
The loser will enter a threehorse race for the final two positions as Nerang Bulls and Surfers Paradise look for an opening to strike.
The significance of the match is not lost on the Alleygators, who have risen from the ashes of a season in second grade to position themselves as challengers for a first-grade title.
“It’s massive for us,” Gators rugby manager Michael Bell said. “It’s been well-documented the club’s struggles over the last few years.
“We’ve had a massive rebuild and Saturday will be equally massive for our club.
“We’re aiming to get the win to control our own destiny and we’ll see how the results flush out to see if we finish second, third or fourth.”
Who better to seize control of their destiny from than the reigning premiers, already stinging from one narrow defeat to the new kids on the block. Helensvale’s large forward pack will be itching for a chance to settle scores after dropping their previous clash in a high-scoring thriller at Bienvenue Drive, 39-35.
Bell said the Gators were prepared to meet their foes head-on in the forwards.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re patient and minimise our missed tackles,” he said.
“They have a forward-oriented game plan but we’re looking forward to that battle up front.”
Hogs captain Scott Stokes said to ignore his team’s backline threats would be a costly mistake.
“We’re strong all over the park,” the halfback said.
“There’s not one area we look to attack. Our forward pack is definitely a strength but our backline is just as deadly with Willie Todd and Jack Finigan in the midfield.”
Stokes said the team always had finals in the back of its mind but was focusing on beating PBC first.
“Last time we started way too slow and gave up 21 points before we decided to start playing rugby,” he said.
“We’ve fixed that in the last few games and with a good start we’ll ease a lot of that pressure on ourselves.”
The match will be live streamed at goldcoastbulletin.com.au from 3.15pm.