Tallon Smith
It took eight long years for Junee to return to the finals, and this Saturday, finals football will return to Junee itself, with the home side receiving a timely boost for the sudden-death minor semi final.
Looking to bounce back and utilise their second chance after being soundly beaten by Gundagai 36-12 in Sunday’s qualifying final, the Diesels welcome back Jese Wainibuli from a long injury layoff for their clash with an in-form Southcity at Laurie Daley Oval.
The star winger has been named in the number 2 jersey for his first game since the side’s round 12 win over Young, seven weeks ago.
Wainibuli’s return comes at a crucial time for the Diesels, who will be looking to avoid a repeat of Sunday’s match, where they conceded two tries in the opening 10 minutes and four in the opening half an hour.
After doing all they could to ensure they were ready for the contest against the Tigers, Junee coach Damian Willis said the anticipation and hype surrounding the club’s long-awaited return to postseason footy may have been a factor in the side’s slow start.
“I thought our preparation was really good over the week, our warm-up was exceptional as well,” he said.
“I just think we may have played the game before we actually got there on Saturday.
“I think there’s a lot more boys that need to make sure that they concentrate on their job, and if we have a lot more guys doing that, and doing their job, then that makes it easier for the rest of the guys.
“I just think that we were a little bit underwhelming, probably not prepared well enough in terms of our attitude, but hopefully we’ll be right come Saturday against Southcity.”
With that match now firmly behind them, attention turns to ending the late-season run of the fifth-placed Bulls, who made it three wins in a row with a comprehensive elimination final victory over Young.
That is easier said than done, with the Bulls’ line-up featuring a number of strike players including Cody Hodge, Jesse Fitzhenry and Kyle McCarthy.
The pair the Diesels will have to pay particular attention to however are Mat Lyons and Nathan Rose, with the former crossing for four tries in the final round game against Cootamundra, while the latter did the same and then repeated his heroics in the first finals match.
Having played with both players in premiership teams at Gundagai, Willis said he is acutely aware of their ability to produce remarkable pieces of play, and will be ensuring Junee is prepared for the task of stopping the star duo.
“[On Wednesday] I will sit down and watch a bit of video on Southcity and do a little bit of homework,” he said.
“I’ve played with both of those players, and both of them are unbelievable footballers that can pull something out of absolutely nothing and score a try from anywhere and over the last four or five weeks, Southcity have been on fire and I know that combination with Matty Lyons and Nathan Rose is quite potent.
“I think that if we can control them, then we control the game, and our forwards will do their job and get forward for us, and our outside backs just need to defend really tightly and make sure they limit the opportunities that those two blokes have.
“If we can do that and shut them down, then we can go a long way to winning that game of football.”
As for the club’s supporters, Willis expects a healthy turnout in the final home appearance of the Diesels’ centenary season.
“This year for us, being our 100th year, they’ve definitely been behind us the whole year, the community,” he said.
“They got down and showed plenty of force at Gundagai over the weekend, and our ladies tackle were obviously victorious on Sunday and plenty of people got over to watch our games.
“It’s going to be a big one for us.
“Our under 16s also took out their competition on Saturday, and we went down as a group, first graders and reserve graders and a couple of the under 18s boys all went down and cheered them on as well.
“In terms of the community getting behind all our sides, from juniors to seniors, it’s been pretty good.”
In team news, Wainibuli’s return means a change in the backline, as he takes the wing spot of rookie Jack Walker, who drops out of the team as a result.
The Diesels will also be without Eli Crozier, who suffered a leg injury in the Gundagai game.
For the Bulls, Joel Cooper makes way for Trey Charles, while Travis Smith has also not been named.
Otherwise, Southcity’s line-up is unchanged from last week’s win over Young.
Teams have also been released for Sunday’s grand final qualifier between Temora and Gundagai.
Team Lists
Minor Semi Final – Junee v Southcity
Saturday, Laurie Daley Oval, 2:35pm
Junee
1. Daniel Foley
2. Jese Wainibuli
3. Tevita Toloi
4. Cooper Wright
5. Jakeem Morgan
6. Stu Dunbar
7. Connor Garrety
8. Jaydyn Hoeta
9. Hayden Diggins
10. Tom Carroll
11. Jack Schubert
12. Ryan Crowder
13. Chase Bernard (c)
15. Damel Diakhate
16. Neti Latu
17. Quaider Kea
18. Peter Adam
Southcity
1. Jumarne Little-Kearnes
2. Jarom Vakarewakobau
3. Mathew Lyons
19. Cody Hodge
5. Jesse Fitzhenry
6. Nathan Rose
7. Joshua Siegwalt
8. Timothy Hurst
9. Lewis Marley
10. Joel Tracey
11. Tommy Jeffery
12. Mitchell Bennett
13. Luke McBeath (c)
14. Kyle McCarthy
16. Trey Charles
17. Dana Ratu
18. Rhys Weldon
Major Semi Final – Temora v Gundagai
Sunday, Nixon Park, 2:35pm
Temora
1. Hamish Starr
2. Drew Robinson
3. Brandon Nima
4. Will McDermott
5. Jimmy Stewart
6. Lachie Cole
7. Jake McGovern
20. Zach Starr
9. Bailey Wallace
10. Tyler Madden
11. Billy Reardon
12. Brodie Mirtschin
13. Hayden Philp
14. Yoan Veve
15. Grant Hughes
16. Josh McCrone
17. David White
18. Riley Craw
Gundagai
1. Will Herring
2. Corey Wilson
3. Gabriel Gul
4. James Morgan
5. Sailusi Temaka
6. Tyron Gorman
7. Derek Hay
8. Joseph Tahaafe
9. Wilson Hamblin
10. Hayden Ashcroft
11. Jack Elphick
12. Mark Asquith
13. Royce Tout
14. James Luff
15. Sheldon Diaz
16. Nick McDonald
17. Meli Drau
