The future looks bright for Batemans Bay rugby league, with the Tigers’ under 18s side set to play in the Group 16 grand final in Bega at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The grand final berth comes after a 28-4 victory over the Narooma Devils at Ack Weyman Oval in Moruya last weekend.
Head coach Jeff Cox was pleased with the way his side was able to “drag themselves out of the hole they’d been in for the last couple of weeks.”
“We’ve had a tendency to get ourselves into leads during games, then go into relax mode,” said Cox.
“Last week we kept pushing with the lead, and didn’t give them a chance to get back into the game.”
Their opponents, the Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs, defeated the Tigers 24-8 two weekends ago, but Cox is confident his side can reverse that result.
“There’ll be a few subtle tweaks (to the game-plan) that we’ll take to the game,” said Cox. “But principally what has worked for us all year is the platform that we’ll take into the Grand Final.”
Cox believes his team’s chemistry will be its biggest strength going into the game.
“The boys were really keen for a recovery session on Monday at Denham’s Beach,” said Cox, something that they had not yet done this season.
“They all understand that it’s about the team, not the individual.”
The Tigers also had former Canberra Raiders and St. George Illawarra Dragons star Michael Weyman speak to the side on Tuesday night.
Former club president and current committee member John McAllister said Weyman spoke of his experience in the 2010 NRL Grand Final.
“Michael spoke about not playing the game before the game starts, and enjoying the week leading up to the match,” said McAllister.
McAllister also said this Grand Final was important for the club’s future, as the U18s have not tasted Group 16 success since 1969.
He admitted the club was going through a rebuilding phase at the moment, but looked to this young group of players to help revitalise the club over the coming years.
“Not every player will stay, but we’d expect about half-a-dozen players to stay with the club as seniors” McAllister said.
The grand final will kick of 11am on Sunday August 20 at Bega Recreation Ground, and they’d love your support from the sideline.
