THE Hawks had been flying high in Group 19 this season before the Boomerangs knocked them down in the major semi-final last week, now the minor premiers will have to beat the other Moree- based side to get another shot at the reigning premiers in next week’s grand final.
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The Boars will be aiming to make that an all-Moree grand final when they face the Hawks at Varley Oval tomorrow.
The Boars last played finals footy in 2009 although that was in Group 4 against Wee Waa and, after two years back in the Group 19, the Boars are having their best season since.
Coach Trevor Tighe said injuries and a form slump hindered the side mid-season after sharing the top of the table with both the Rangs and Hawks early on.
“We are going in this week with flying colours and no major concerns,” Tighe said.
“Everyone is feeling confident but we have to take that into the game and execute.”
The last time the two sides met was a landslide to the Hawks, although the Boars will remember round four, where a near fully-fit Boars just missed out 28-26.
“Finals is a whole new game,” Tighe said.
“We have to be disciplined – there can be no penalties and no bins.”
He thought Moree were near their best in the 54-16 win over Ashford in the minor semi-final.
“Every year we play to be in this position and against Ashford our game was where we have wanted it to be all season,” Tighe said.
In that match the senior players with finals experience stood up and led the way or, in some cases, forged the way through the middle.
Marshall Barker won a premiership with North Tamworth last year before returning to the Boars this season and has been inspirational in the forward pack, alongside workhorse Matt Marshall.
In the backline, silky halfback Brenton Cochrane knows exactly what is needed in finals footy after featuring in plenty across two codes over the past decade.
“Those senior players lead by example and the younger blokes fall in line behind them,” Tighe said.
“Our five-eighth Ben Williams has also been stepping up and will need to take control of the game.”
The Boomerangs will feature in the reserve grade fixture against Armidale, with Inverell already in the final.
Glen Innes will contest both the U18s and league tag, the juniors also playing the Rams, while the Boars ladies will take on the Magpies to start the day at 10.30am.