Bears’ best to receive honour
(the chosen side) to the crowd also prior to the A-grade game.”
Driscoll added that criteria had been involved with the 1967-97 side.
“You had to play two years for Burleigh,” he said.
“You had to have contributed to the club and played obviously good footy at the club. There’s other bits and pieces like premiership winners and individual statistics … it is very hard to compare eras.”
The Bears are aiming to back up their Round 20 upset win over Sunshine Coast in St George when they take on the finals-bound Blackhawks.
Coach Jimmy Lenihan is anticipating a fired-up Townsville outfit after the fifthplaced club lost to Ipswich last weekend.
With the Bears out of finals contention down in 10th place, they are about to begin their retention and recruitment drive for 2018.
“We want to start locking away some of the players that we feel are important to us and keep an eye out for someone who might be able to add to us as well,” Lenihan said.
“Most clubs are probably going through that process right now about looking at their roster for next year and how they could improve it or certainly maintain it.”
Tweed Heads have a bye. FITNESS is a key focus for Runaway Bay as they hunt for some elusive Gold Coast Rugby League silverware.
Talk around the competition has pointed to the big Seagulls outfit being a formidable force in night matches but a questionable prospect in warmer afternoon conditions, a theory supported by their 24-16 loss to Bilambil last Sunday.
Bay captain Matt Gandy agreed the side must work on their fitness.
“Once your body goes then the mind follows so if we are able to stay competitive in that regard, we will be able to slug it out for the full 80 minutes,” he said.
The 25-year-old centre said their improved results had in part come down to growing combinations after major roster turnover in 2014.
“We’re a lot more familiar with each other and the bond and camaraderie is there, which probably wasn’t there the first year that I joined,” he said.
Runaway Bay can tighten their hold on second place by beating Southport in the annual Ross Bycroft Memorial Challenge Shield showdown tonight.
The Bycroft family bankrolled the competition for a long time, with Ross having especially strong ties to the Seagulls and Tigers.
With Southport dominating the shield, contested since 2000, Gandy is determined to start evening up the ledger tonight.
Tigers skipper Mick Esdale said his side would be up for the clash after enduring a difficult season.
“For us it’s a good chance to bring something back to our clubhouse, something that we are proud of,” he said.