Surfers, Griffith finally face off
IT has taken until late May but at last, the two clubs that have contested the past three Gold Coast District Rugby Union deciders are bracing to square off.
Surfers Paradise won the 2016 and 2017 titles in undefeated campaigns while Griffith University Colleges got their revenge for years of pain last season.
Between them, the sides have won 10 of 11 matches this year. Colleges, though, have been the competition’s dominant force, opening up a points difference of 165.
Surfers, meanwhile, have a negative for-and-against, despite winning four from five, in a sign of how hard they’ve had to work for the wins.
“We have just got that habit with the last couple of seasons when we have been winning games, it’s been instilled into us that we know how to win and it’s just that culture: Everyone believes that we are going to win each game,” Dolphins captain Andy Finn said.
“Even though it’s a different side, we have still passed it on to the new lads that we don’t go out for any game thinking we are going to lose, no matter who it is.
“Even if it’s by two or three points, it’s a win at the end of the day and we come away happy.”
Despite major player turnover from last year, Finn believes his side can match it with the Knights this afternoon.
“We are rebuilding but we’re still challenging, we’re not going to take the foot off the gas,” the 27-year-old said.
“We have got to go out there and prove that we’re worth it, and that we’re working to get the title back.”
Knights mentor Johnny Ngauamo played down the favourites tag attached to his side going into the match.
“We just take it one game at a time. We don’t really look at it as a grand final rematch,” he said.
“To us, match.
“We have got a long way to go yet, there’s still another seven or eight matches before we even think about finals or anything like that.
“I think the guys realise that anyone can get knocked over on the day so they just treat it as another game.”
Other Round 7 matches will see Helensvale host Gold Coast Eagles while Nerang take on Bond Pirates. it’s just another