Weaver wants revenge for schools state final
THE ignominy of a loss few outside of Townsville saw coming still burns in the back of Tom Weaver’s mind.
The star half of Palm Beach Currumbin’s all-conquering Allan Langer Cup team from last year remembers vividly the heartache that came with a shock 24-20 loss to Kirwan State High School in the Phil Hall Cup decider.
On Saturday, alongside six of his PBC teammates from that fateful day, Weaver will return to Townsville, this time in Tweed colours, ready to make amends.
Because opposed to the Seagulls at Jack Manski Oval, in the Blackhawks’ black, white and green, will be six of the architects of PBC’s demise last September.
In total, 13 players from the state schools final will do battle again, this time in the Mal Meninga Cup under-18 decider.
“It’s definitely something that sits in the back of your mind going up there,” Weaver admitted.
“We were confident last year as PBC going up there but it just didn’t happen for us. We don’t want to have that same feeling we had in the state final last year.”
Against the unbeaten Blackhawks on their home patch the Seagulls will likely go in as underdogs.
Weaver and his teammates could not care less about expectation.
“We’ve had to do it the hard way to get here,” he said.
“We had to play Wynnum at their home ground and now travel up to Townsville for the grand final.
“We’ve had our starting front-rower (Jack Cullen) get suspended. Our backs are against the wall but we like it that way.
“We like having the competition against us.”
The Blackhawks have conceded just 34 points in seven matches – 24 of those coming in the semi-final win over the Capras.
Defence wins premierships – a tried and tested creed that both Weaver and his coach Tim Maccan believe in.
But it’s a trio of talented Tweed playmakers that Weaver says will break the game open on Saturday.
“I think if (fullback) Jaylan De Groot and our two centres (Deine Mariner and Kaleb Ngamanu) really turn it on, we’ll be hard to stop,” he said.
“Kaleb and Deine have been outstanding for us all season. They’re always there when we need someone to take the tough carries.
“We give them the ball whenever we need something and they give you something special.”