Reigning champs Crookwell to battle premiership-hungry Boorowa

By Jeff Hanson

The stage is set for a thrilling Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield (GTS) Grand Final at Crookwell Memorial Oval on Saturday.

It will be mate against mate as the Crookwell Green Devils host the Boorowa Rovers in the highly-anticipated competition decider.

Despite a slow start to the season, where Crookwell lost three of their first four matches, the reigning premiers then went on a ten-gaming winning streak to claim the 2023 Minor Premiership.

Crookwell continued their good form into the post-season, and in the match of the year, and one of the best games of Rugby League this writer’s ever witnessed, the Green Devils defeated the Rovers 31-30 to advance to the decider.

Green Devils coach Brian Gray was tasked with coaching a new-look side in 2023, and he has done a great job getting Crookwell into back-to-back Grand Finals.

“We had a big turnover of players from last year to this year, and in total, we had 15 new players come in,” Gray said.

“Some had played with Crookwell before, but some hadn’t played in recent years, and that probably explained that slow start as we were trying to build new combinations.

“We were really clunky and disjointed, but all of a sudden, everything seemed to click, and our confidence went through the roof, and we strung together quite a few victories.”

Like Crookwell, Boorowa stormed into the GTS finals on the back of a six-game winning streak, finishing second behind the Green Devils on points difference.

Boorowa cruised past the Bungendore Tigers 36-6 in their qualifying final before going down to Crookwell in the abovementioned one-point loss in their major semi-final.

The Rovers then faced the Tigers again in the Preliminary Final in Boorowa on Saturday, and the home side’s class shone through as they won 32-22 to qualify for this Saturday’s Grand Final.

Despite taking the long way to the decider, Rovers captain/coach Alex Stewart believes it will benefit his side, who will be match-hardened when battling the Green Devils.

“They might have had the week off, but I reckon the extra game will help us,” Stewart said.

“We had two forfeits against us at the back end of the season, which meant we had three weeks off going into that win against Harden.

“If anything, we needed the run, and it’s done us a world of good and going into that game against Bungendore, we went out there to fix some of the silly mistakes we made against Crookwell the week before.”

Gray conceded the week off, coupled with recent byes, might not be the best thing for Crookwell and their chances of going back-to-back.

“Just a one-game break is fine, but we have had a couple of weeks off now,” Gray said.

“We had a bye, then played Boorowa, and then a bye, and making it harder, we had a bye just before finals.

“It is a bit of a concern because Boorowa has had to battle their way though, and they are ready to go, and those byes and that lack of match fitness and match toughness is the question mark I have on our side and whether we can get the job done.”

Still, the Green Devils will enter the match as favourites, mainly because they have been there and won it before. 

Crookwell has been a dominant force in the George Tooke Shield, winning four titles since the turn of the century (2005-06, 2018, 2022).

In stark contrast, Boorowa is chasing a drought-breaking title.

The Rovers played in the 1998 and 1999 Woodbridge Cup Grand Finals, going down to Grenfell and Molong, respectively, but since then, it’s been a dry spell.

It’s no surprise that Stewart and his side desperately want to deliver Boorowa a premiership.

“It’s pretty crazy; it’s been 24 years since Boorowa has been in a Grand Final, and there is a good vibe on the street,” Stewart said.

“It’s pretty hard to describe what it would mean to win. I’d be very emotional, and a lot of players in this team, their fathers played in that last Grand Final, so it would be really special for the team, club, and town.”

Stewart is expecting a lot of locals to get out and watch the local derby and competition decider.

“The way the town is talking, we’ll have plenty of numbers there, and we don’t mind going to Crookwell; we get on with them and like playing there,” Stewart said.

“It just should be a good day, and they’ll have good support, too. We’re both local teams, and we all grew up playing juniors against each other, and a lot of us are mates, so it should make for a good game.”

Gray agreed with his coaching counterpart and only hoped there were more Crookwell supporters on hand cheering on the Green Devils.

“I was in town this morning, and everyone is starting to get steamers around the shops, and it’s good to see that support, and hopefully, they all turn up on Saturday afternoon,” Gray said.

“It will be a big crowd, and Boorowa will be well-supported too, and I just hope we have the Green Devils’ fence-sitters there cheering us on.”

Crookwell set to host a massive day of deciders

In lower-grade deciders to be played at Crookwell on Saturday, the Blumers Lawyers Katrina Fanning Shield Tier 2 Grand Final will see defending premiers Harden host the Queanbeyan Blues at 10.30 a.m.

The WorHawks have found their rhythm, winning their semi-final matches in barnstorming style, but the Blues did claim the 2023 Minor Premiership, and they will take some beating in the Big Dance. 

In the Blumers Lawyers League-Tag Grand Final, competition juggernaut and reigning premiers Harden will be shooting for their fifth title in eight years.

The Hawkettes won’t have it all their way when playing the youthfully exuberant Cootamundra Bullettes outfit, which was the only team to knock off Harden this season.

Crookwell is the place to be on Saturday, with all three games set to be played in front of a bumper crowd, but for those who can’t attend, Bar TV Sports will be streaming the game and for the link, click here.

For all Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield and CRRL results, ladders, and draws, click here.