Canberra Raiders Cup: Grand Final Preview
Seiffert Oval will be divided in Maroon and Blue this Sunday as Queanbeyan rivals, the Kangaroos and Blues, battle it out for Canberra Raiders Cup premiership glory.
The Canberra Raiders Cup Grand Final day will reach its thrilling climax when the Queanbeyan Kangaroos and Queanbeyan Blues take the field at 3:30pm to decide who will be crowned the 2024 premiers.
The Queanbeyan derby has been the matchup of the year, starting with the opening round where Roos captain-coach Sam Williams converted from the sideline after the fulltime siren to level the scores at 32-all.
Their later round 11 clash was eagerly anticipated following that draw, and astonishingly, the scores were once again deadlocked at 24-all after 80 minutes.
Nothing could separate the two rivaled sides, and at the end of the regular season, they finished first and second on equal points, with the Roos claiming the minor premiership with a stronger points differential.
The top-two finish meant the Queanbeyan teams met again in the major semi-final, where a draw was not an option with extra time and golden point in play if required.
With a 10-all halftime scoreline, déjà vu set in for spectators, but it was the Roos who came out on top after a strong second half performance, claiming a 22-14 victory and securing their spot in the 2024 Grand Final.
The Roos now have a chance to secure back-to-back titles under the leadership of Sam Williams.
"It's an opportunity, there's only two sides left with that opportunity to win the competition, and we've given ourselves every chance to do that," Williams said.
"You make decisions early on in the year, on a multitude of different avenues, about trying to win the competition and trying to be at your best come this weekend.
"We'll be as prepared as we can be and hopefully that gets us over the line, but whatever happens come Sunday wont be through a lack of preparation."
Finishing second gave the Blues a second chance in the preliminary final, where they secured a gritty 20-14 win over the Woden Valley Rams to earn their shot at the title.
Blues captain Dylan McLachlan credits their defensive performance, especially during the sin-bin period, for securing the crucial win.
"It certainly wasn't the best football we've played attacking wise, but defensively we really showed some grit," McLachlan said.
"When Atu [Tupou] did get sent off, it felt like they were just peppering our line for the whole 10 minutes.
"It would've been easier to turn over and roll away that game but the determination that some of our younger boys showed to pull through, sets us up with a lot of confidence heading into this game.
"Over the last six weeks, we've changed our focus from being the attacking side we were throughout the year to making defence the number one priority."
The Blues' Grand Final berth comes after a challenging 2023 season where they finished seventh, equal last.
The remarkable turnaround was showcased at the 2024 Les McIntyre Medal, where the Blues swept all the first grade awards, highlighted by Dylan McLachlan receiving the McIntyre Medal and coach Jeremy Braun earning the Don Furner Snr Shield. A premiership would be the cherry on top.
"It's great to see the old boys and everyone around the club that's been around for a while, that it's exciting for them," McLachlan said.
"It has been a big turnaround in 12 months and we hope to continue that into the future."
Adding to the narrative, Roos backrower Josh Ayers is enjoying a standout season, marking his 300th first grade game, earning NSW Country selection, and being named the Country Championship Player of the Year. However, a premiership has eluded him, and this would be the perfect addition to his career.
Additionally, the Grand Final holds special significance for Roos players Michael Dodson and his son Ryan Dodson, as Michael aims to end his career by lifting the trophy alongside his son.
Which team will have the fairytale ending to their 2024 season? All will be determined this Sunday at Seiffert Oval.
