The Greta Branxton Colts have the chance to win their second Group 21 grand final at home and avenge last year’s loss to the Denman Devils on Sunday.
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The Colts will host title holders the Devils in this season’s decider at Greta Central Oval, which follows five years on from their maiden top grade premiership at the same venue.
Colts prop Ben Murray was part of the club’s previous success and the Greater Northern Tigers representative was hopeful the atmosphere created by the 3500-strong crowd would help Greta Branxton get across the line once more.
“I’d never experienced anything like it,” Murray said.
“To not only play a grand final at home but in front of a whole town was amazing.”
Murray, who scored the winning try for Greta Branxton a fortnight ago in their golden point extra-time major semi-final victory, is one of three survivors from Matt Lantry’s 2009 squad with halfback Joey Griffiths and winger Roy Bell still going around for the Colts.
The rest of the team has been moulded by current mentor Ron Griffiths during his two years at the club.
One of the acquisitions has been fullback Andrew Roberts from a captain-coaching role with Paterson River and the 27-year-old will now play in his first senior grand final on Sunday.
“I can’t wait,” Roberts said.
“Home ground advantage will be massive for us.”
Both the Colts (22-18) and Devils (24-18) beat minor premiers Scone at Scone in the play-offs during the last two weeks after the Thoroughbreds had dropped just the final match of the season, to Greta Branxton (20-18), in the regular rounds.
Murray said the Colts were more concerned about their own game rather than their grand final opponents.
“It didn’t matter who we played and we hadn’t spoke about it at all,” he said.
“We were only worried about our game and getting that right, not what colour jersey we would be lining up against.”
Murray added the difference between this campaign and last year, which culminated in the minor premiership-winning Colts being beaten 20-6 in the grand final by the Devils at Denman, was attitude.
“The difference this year has been a different attitude,” he said.
“It was more about playing each game than the grand final and there has been a better feeling amongst the group.”
The Colts will hold their final training session tomorrow evening before walking around the ground on Saturday.
The group 21 first grade grand final kicks off at 3pm on Sunday.
In the lower grade deciders Scone meet Singleton in both reserves (1.10pm) and women’s league tag (11.55am) while the under 18s fixture has Denman up against Muswellbrook (10.25am).