Tallon Smith
Yanco-Wamoon has moved within a game of its first grand final since 2005 after ending Tullibigeal-Lakes United’s nine-game unbeaten run with a 31-16 victory in the qualifying final at the Yanco Sportsground on Sunday.
Led by a hat-trick to centre Nia Remuera, the Hawks outlasted the Sharks to flip the script following their 32-23 loss in their previous meeting at Lake Cargelligo a fortnight ago and move into next Sunday’s major semi final against Griffith Waratahs.
Having welcomed back Josh Onekawa, Vilimoni Waqanidrola, Kobe-Joe Vulu and Taine Pauls for the clash, Yanco-Wamoon coach Kye Longford said confidence and preparation paved the way for the 15-point win.
“Obviously there is a lot of self-belief in our team, and we got four players back over the weekend too which was really good,” he said.
“We had a really good week training-wise, and the guys looked really up for it, and I think it showed on the weekend.
“Full credit to Lakes, they played really well too, I think both teams were completing at over 80 percent for that first half, it was very tit-for-tat, and it was very physical and it was quite close too.
“They might have had a late scratching with Ned [Phillips] pulled out, which probably didn’t help, they were missing Mog [Michael Mogliotti] as well.
“It was quite an entertaining game, physical, and our boys, full credit to them, they were up for it.”
Finishing with three tries, Remuera was the star of an at times stop-start but physical match, with halfback Shan Bradbrook also having an impact on the scoresheet with a try, three conversions, two penalty goals and a field goal for 15 personal points.
Longford said that Remuera’s outstanding performance was just the latest in a strong campaign this season.
“He was exceptional, he’s been a really good get for us this year, he’s an extremely talented young man, there’s not much of him, but he’s all effort and all heart,” he said.
“The way he carries the ball is quite destructive for the size of him, he’s quite small, but everything he does is 100 percent and the good challenge for me is trying to get him to run at spaces and not faces.
“He definitely plays above his weight and he backs his ability which is good, and like I said he’s an excellent kid off the field which makes it even better.”
Next up for the Hawks is a trip to Griffith’s Exies Oval next Sunday to face the minor premier Waratah Tigers for the first spot in the Group 20 grand final on Sunday, September 20.
Although Yanco is yet to topple the Tigers this season, both matchups were physical games, with the margins being eight and 14 points respectively.
When asked what the Hawks will be looking to do this time around, Longford said the emphasis will be on starting the match the same way they did against the Sharks, with handling and discipline a particular area of focus.
“If we can keep completing well, get to a kick and just build some pressure, I think that’s a big thing,” he said.
“A big thing for us is just focusing on not giving the opposition any gifts, I think we tend to either be our own worst enemy through way of errors or penalties, so if we can minimise those, and not give up any cheap field position I think that’s going to go a long way.
“Any finals game too, anyone who holds the ball in this comp too is going to win it, and then you’ve obviously got to get a bit of luck with injuries and all those things.
“If we can hold the ball, complete, get to our kicks, our kicks were really good on the weekend, I thought Shan really took control, and I think we kicked to a corner, we built some pressure and we just went from there.
“We’ve been priming ourselves for this, so [we’re] looking forward to it.”
The Sharks meanwhile will use their second chance when they face elimination final winners Leeton at Griffith’s Solar Mad Stadium on Saturday.
Win that match, and the side will move into a home preliminary final against the loser of the Waratahs-Hawks game at the Lake Cargelligo Recreation Ground the following weekend.
YANCO-WAMOON 31 (Nia Remuera 3, John Wharepapa-Rawiri, Shan Bradbrook tries; Bradbrook 5 goals; Bradbrook field goal) DEFEATED TULLIBIGEAL-LAKES UNITED 16 (Sinelle Thorpe, Tristin Johnson, Bobby Jones tries; Jaden Kelly 2 goals) at Yanco Sportsground, Sunday August 30.
