Union divided in game of kings

A SHOWDOWN of the Dolphins is set to determine whether Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast rugby union is king.

Plans are advanced to stage a historic grudge match between the reigning premiers of the respective competitions, Surfers Paradise and Noosa, who are both known as the Dolphins.

The clash will be for ultimate bragging rights, not only for the two clubs but the wider regions in which they play their week-to-week footy.

The match had originally been pencilled in as a curtainraiser to a Super Rugby preseason trial between the ACT Brumbies and Waikato Chiefs at Sunshine Coast Stadium on February 14.

However, it is understood political tensions between the Sunshine Coast and Noosa councils proved a roadblock to the concept.

Surfers Paradise captaincoach Kris Burton remains confident the inter-region clash won’t be put on the back- burner. “I think it will still go ahead,” Burton said.

“Where it will go ahead, I’m not sure. They are wanting to do it this year sometime so it all depends on both clubs and both competitions and draws and things like that.”

It would not be the first time the powerhouse clubs have locked horns.

“We played them two years ago in a pre-season trial game,” Burton said.

“They were a good squad. When we played against them it was a good competitive game.”

Gold Coast District Rugby Union officials are believed to be keen to make the concept an annual tradition.

Surfers Paradise are on a remarkable 37-game winning streak that has encompassed the entire 2016 and 2017 Gold Coast seasons.

This year they will have to do it without half of their allconquering player-coach combination though, after former Tongan international Tonga Lea’aetoa switched to frontrunning rivals Helensvale.

Round 1 will be held on March 10.