Unique night of raw star power
THE Rugby League Gold Coast A Grade decider will be a oncein-a-lifetime spectacle that might never be matched again for raw star power on display.
The cancellation of the 2020 Intrust Super Cup has delivered players knocking on the NRL’s door to the suburban competition.
With some of Queensland’s brightest emerging rugby league stars roaming the ovals of the Gold Coast, to even make it this far is a success.
For finalists Runaway Bay and Burleigh a trophy that will stand out above all others in the cabinet is the shining incentive to push forward for one more week.
“It’s going to be one of the best A Grade games ever,” Burleigh captain Reece Summer declared.
“It’s 100 per cent a once-ina-lifetime type of game.
“There are a lot of Cup players in both sides.
“Runaway Bay are a great side with a lot of experience but a lot of our boys are hungry to get the job done.
“There will be bodies flying around but whoever is going to hang in there for 80 minutes is going to win.
“It will be physical but we’re tough enough and we have a lot of boys pushing to play higher level.”
Burleigh coach Matt Foster said the Bears’ mid-season “speed bumps” were an edu
cational experience for a young outfit that needed those lessons ahead of finals.
“I think our young fellas almost started expecting to win a little bit,” Foster said.
“We’d won our first four and I think we came out of the blocks a little too hot.
“We’d trained hard through COVID and caught an early advantage but as other teams got to work with each other and built their connection they caught us a little.
“Fortunately we’ve been able to steady the ship over the last weeks and I think we’re in good shape physically and mentally.”
The last time these two sides played a red card to Burleigh winger Alofiana KhanPereira for a spear tackle of star playmaker Guy Hamilton helped seal Runaway Bay’s undefeated season.
If those emotions bubble up again under the pressure of a boisterous crowd at Cbus Super Stadium both captains will need to try to keep their cool.
It is set to be an unforgettable evening of Gold Coast rugby league.