Five things learnt from week three of the TRL final series
The stage is now set for the culmination of the TRL Premiership, with rivals Valleys and Wattles to do battle for the ultimate prize.
Highfields tried to match it with the minor premiers, but couldn’t get there in the end.
Here are the five talking points out of Sunday’s action at Glenholme Park. BURNS STILL HAS THE MAGIC TOUCH In the TRL Premiership we have been blessed with one of the highest levels of individual talent witnessed in recent years.
One of those is NRL veteran Travis Burns, and on Sunday he showed why he is one of the best players in the competition.
Taking over the reins with the suspension of Matt Duggan, Burns shone in the role, playing a leading hand and was the difference between the two sides.
He took a hammering with the ball in hand and was hit late on a number of occasions, but he got up every time. HARGREAVES A WINNING CHOICE Under the tough circumstances Wattles were placed in, I believe the game-day decision to move Jake Hargreaves to five-eighth was a smart one.
Having someone as talented as him in that role allowed Burns to steer the ship while chipping in at key moments.
I thought he played well yesterday, and promoting Nathan Gaulton to the centres ensures they don’t lose too much on the outside flanks.
THE PAIN REMAINS RAW FOR HIGHFIELDS
You couldn’t help but feel for the Highfields camp after the full-time siren sounded on Sunday.
A number of players were visibly dishevelled after giving it their all in a brutal 80 minutes, to ultimately fall short in the end.
They held an eight-point lead, and while a decision appeared to go against them to potentially stretch that advantage, they still managed to keep themselves in the fight for the entire match.
While the weekend’s result hurt, they have shown they have the personnel to match it with the big guns in the competition, and can use this pain as motivation to making the big one next season.
WATTLES AND VALLEYS PREPARE FOR HIGH FIVE
Some teams go through the TRL season with just the one encounter.
This Sunday’s decider will mark the fifth meeting between the Roosters and Warriors, and the neutrals are hoping it can live up to their past three games, which have been decided by two, eight and two points respectively.
They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses after a number of classic encounters, and the trick this weekend will be who can produce the goods when it matters the most.
YOUNG GUNS SHINING
While all eyes will be on the main game this Sunday, one fixture that is not to be missed is the U18s decider between Highfields and Southern Suburbs.
The Tigers have been plagued with players missing due to representative duties, but we have seen just how deadly they are at full strength throughout the finals, defeating their three opponents by a combined 122-34.
They face their sternest test to date in the most important game of the lot however, and Highfields have the weapons to match it with them.