Backs to the wall tests spur side to greater heights

UNDER 13S: SURFERS PARADISE DOLPHINS V HELENSVALE HOGS @ 10AM

SURFERS PARADISE: There have been times throughout the year when Dolphins coach Danny Simmons has seen his team thrive with their backs against the wall.

On some occasions they have taken the field with the bare minimum of players, on others even undermanned.

But through it all he said his young group had risen above, and it was that ability to overcome adversity that had steeled them for Saturday’s decider.

It is why Simmons cannot identify one key moment that set them on this path to the title. It has been a collective effort from the first pre-season training that instilled that willingness to compete.

“Whatever is thrown at them they just stand up and they compete. It’s a game of football, it’s very competitive, it’s a tough game especially for a young man just coming through who hasn’t really played the game,” Simmons said.

“It’s very confronting playing rugby, so the way they conducted themselves on the field … it’s a life skill for the boys and we make sure that the way they conduct themselves on and off the field is paramount.

“I’d love to see them go through and play seniors. A lot of things can change between now and then, they might take a different path, but these young men it’d be good to see them play seniors.”

HELENSVALE HOGS: While his young men have been the benchmark of the competition, there is still some sense of frustration for Hogs coach James Purdie.

With only four teams gracing the division this season, with weather, Covid and injuries also rearing their heads, the Helensvale outfit have been met with several forfeits in the lead up to the finals. Purdie’s youngsters have gone through the season undefeated, however the mentor has ensured his boys were reminded regularly that anything could happen when the silverware was on the line.

While he said the Dolphins had forfeited from contests twice in recent weeks, making what was coming on Saturday something of an unknown, there would be enough strike power out wide to make life challenging.

“Surfers are a good team, they’ve got strike power out wide, a lot of speed and size,” Purdie said.