GRAND CHANCE

BRUISED BLACKHAWKS SET UP SHOT AT TITLE

THEY were clinical, they were precise, but Blackhawks Hastings Deering Colts coach Dave Elliott is adamant the job is not done yet.

The Blackhawks under-21s booked a grand final berth with an impressive attacking display, downing Sunshine Coast Falcons 54-12 at Redcliffe on Saturday.

It is the club’s second grand final of the year after their Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s) played in the decider against Tweed Heads earlier this year.

For Elliott, it will be a chance at a fairytale farewell to the club as he prepares to join the Mackay Cutters as head coach of their Queensland Cup side next season.

But the coach was adamant the performance in the preliminary was about his players and their determination to stand up in the face of the injury adversity that has plagued the back end of their season.

“I am very happy for them, they have worked extremely hard,” Elliott said. “They have had a lot of adversity in the group this season.

“It is pretty good for our boys but we have still got one more game to go. Getting into a grand final is one of the hardest things to do but we need to refocus.

“We are certainly finding form at the right time of the year and they should take some confidence and belief out of that. We played some very attacking footy and as we have been for the last few weeks, we turned up with a lot of desperation in defence.”