ACTRU Grand Final
The Queanbeyan Whites and Eastern Suburbs will contest the 2008 Tooheys New John I Dent Cup grand final at Viking Park on Saturday. Easts, who will contest their first grand final since 1973, qualified for the decider with a 36-30 win over Royals in last weekend’s preliminary final. Minor premiers, Queanbeyan, earned a direct passage into the grand final following their 17-12 major semi final win over Easts a fortnight ago. Brumby Jack surveyed the captains and coaches from the other five clubs to get their thoughts on Saturday’s decider. Gungahlin Eagles
Peter O’Neill –Coach
Easts by 1
Easts will go in as underdogs but they’ve played some pretty tough football in the last four weeks and they’ve been getting better and better. They’re match fit and I don’t think Queanbeyan have played enough rugby in the last month. They’ve only played two matches, which is what we did last year and stumbled.
Matt Hogan – Captain
Easts by 7
It’ll be close but Easts are on a bit of a roll and have a bit of momentum. They played well last time they played Queanbeyan and if they can eliminate some of the mistakes they made in that game, I think they’ll win. Royals
Frank Condi – Coach
Queanbeyan by 7-10
I’d like to see Easts get up. It’d be good for the competition for Easts to win having not won a premiership in such a long time but I think Queanbeyan have been consistent all year and they’ve kept the bulk of the side that were there and got the job done for them last year.
Tim Cornforth – Captain
Queanbeyan by 3-7
It’s hard to split them. Easts have taken the underdog tag but I think Queanbeyan will get over them – it’ll be a very close game though. After playing Easts on the weekend, they’re very persistent, they’re hard to shake during the game and they keep coming back. Tuggeranong Vikings
Graham Reed – Coach
Queanbeyan by 10-15
While Easts are on a roll like Queanbeyan was last year, I don’t think they’ve got the same sort of players and it’ll be very hard for them to win their first grand final. Queanbeyan have been the frontrunners all year and they’re playing some really good football but it will be a very tough game.
Beau Mokotupu – Captain
Queanbeyan by 5
Queanbeyan will be hungry again and dedicated after winning it last year. There’s a danger of sides getting overawed by the experience which Easts will need to be careful of but I think Queanbeyan will have too much strike power. Uni-Norths Owls
Dave Purser – Coach
Queanbeyan by 7
Queanbeyan is the most complete side and will benefit from being in the finals and grand final last year. Easts will obviously be very motivated but I think it might be a bridge too far.
Patricio Noriega – Captain
Queanbeyan by 5
I think that Queanbeyan’s all-round game has been excellent this year. Easts will come out very hard early and if Queanbeyan can match that I think they’ll finish stronger in the end. Western District Lions
Craig Robberds – Coach
Easts by 5
Queanbeyan has been the most consistent and probably the best side in the competition. Unfortunately they’ve only had three games in the last seven weeks and coming into a grand final that’s the worst preparation possible. I think Easts will get over the top in the last 20 minutes.
Aaron McInnes – Captain
Queanbeyan by 11
Queanbeyan have been the form side over the back end of last year and through this year. They’ve got a solid nucleus of players that have played a number of games together. All credit to Easts, but I think Queanbeyan will have the edge over them.
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