GOULBURN Workers Bulldogs are listed as the home team on Queanbeyan’s Seiffert Oval on Sunday when they take on the Queanbeyan Blues in the First Grade TTM Canberra Raiders Cup.
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The Bulldogs under captain coach Michael Picker have had a fairly consistent year, finishing the regular season in second position on the ladder Just two points behind Quenabeyan Blues. and ahead of Queanbeyan Roos on percentages.
At mid way through the season, round seven, the Goulburn side was sitting in third spot on the ladder with gungahlin Bulls ahead of them.
The bulls had dropped back to fifth position in the final round leaving Queanbeyan Roos and Belconnen West in third and fourth spots for the finals series.
GWC Workers had several players out with injuries during the latter half of the season but most were back and fit for the finals.
Until Round 10 Queanbeyan Blues were unbeaten in the season and Goulburn had not posted a win against the Queanbeyan side at the Workers Arena for seven years.
Goulburn had also not had a win against them on any field in three years. That 34 to 14 win by the GWC Workers stamped them as serious contenders for the finals and possibly also grand finalists if they could overcome injuries and make it through.
West Belconnen Warriors were the real improvers of the second half of the competition coming from sixth position at round seven to fourth at round 14.
In the minor semi final they soundly defeated Queanbeyan roos to earn a spot in the preliminary final.
Goulburn proved their win against the Blues was not a flash in the pan by beating the Blues in the major semi final 28 to 18.
In the preliminary final the Blues showed why they were minor premiers by taking the game against the Warriors 26 to 20.
On Sunday GWC Bulldogs will be keen to shut down Tom Ruediger who set up the Blues win last weekend against West Belconnen with two early tries and set up Adam Misios to give them a 22 to nil lead after just 25 minutes of the game.
The Bulldogs are counting on a big contingent of Goulburn supporters to travel over to Queanbeyan on Sunday for the 3pm kick-off at Seiffert Oval.
With a strong mix of youth and experience this is Goulburn’s best chance in years to bring home the silverware that the Queanbeyan Blues have had such a strong hold over.
The Bulldogs have proved they are capable of beating the Blues and only need the crowd support to encourage them to play at their best.
It will not be an easy matchup but with players like Michael Picker leading from the front and Mick Bani calling the play from behind this is sure to be a thriller.
Bulldogs president Joe Stephens said the team is unlikely to be changed much from the semi final line up with all player fit and keen to play.
“We have seen some amazing performances from the team this year,” Stephens said.
”And as long as they stick to their game plan and play as a well drilled unit there is no reason they cannot win the premiership.
“ Queanbeyan Blues are a very strong opposition and we can expect that they will fight to the end for what they consider is theirs.”
Likely GWC Bulldogs team
Fullback #1 Michael Bani
Wingers #2 Tim Turner, #5 Junior Vatikani
Centres #3 Cody Medway, #4 Ben Marmont
Five-eighth #6 captain Michael Picker
Half-back #7 Jason Gray
Props # 8 Michael Dodson, #10 Sam Conlon
Hooker #9 Ben Picker
Second row #11 Matt Worboys, #12 Joe Picker
Lock forward #13 Ritchie Mason
Bench #14 Blake Hewitt, #15 Justin Day, #16 Tyson Greenwood, #17 Adam
Taylor, #18 Shane McCallum.
Other players who contributed to the Bulldogs getting to the premiership but who are not included in the of the grand final team are Nic Cornish, Chris Hart and Josh White.
