Lyons back with a bang
Rangers centre to take on Dalby in grand final
THE return of Matt Lyons to Toowoomba Rangers in 2014 is just one win away from a perfect reunion in tomorrow’s Wagners Risdon Cup grand final at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Lyons has been one of the in-form backs of the Risdon Cup finals’ series since returning from a six-week injury lay-off.
Powerful performances from the 27-year-old centre against Toowoomba Bears and Goondiwindi in recent weeks have helped propel Rangers into tomorrow’s premiership decider against Dalby.
Lyons returned to Toowoomba earlier this year after time spent away working and travelling to be closer to his family following the sudden death of his younger brother Tom.
His decision to resume playing rugby and reconnecting with the Rangers club after a six-year absence has helped the club come within reach of its first Risdon Cup victory since 2006.
But while Rangers’ lethal backline has been winning praise for its role in the team’s bold premiership bid, Lyons said it’s not the full story of their season success.
There is a great group of fellas at Rangers and we have become tight as a team.
– Matt Lyons
“This is my first proper season back playing in about three years and I’m really enjoying it,” Lyons said. “There is a great group of fellas at Rangers and we have become tight as a team.
“I think that is starting to show in our form now as well.
“Things have really started to come together for us in the finals.
“Last week against Gundy is the first time all year that we’ve had the team set up as we wanted it.
“I know our backs have been getting a lot of credit but our forwards over the last three weeks have started to develop a real self belief and they have been brilliant for us.
“A lot of credit has to go to our coach Mark Nicholls as well.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for Dalby who are probably the best structured side in the competition.
“We know how hard we’ll have to work on Saturday to beat them and hopefully we are good enough on the day to do it.”