The East Maitland Griffins are rested and primed for battle to add the 2018 major premiership to the minor premiership they claimed in emphatic style.
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And there will be no shortage of support with a big contingent of fans heading down the road to Newcastle No.1 Sportsground for the grand final clash against Windale from noon on Saturday.
Coach Darren Wright has assembled the fittest team in the competition and playing just their second game in five weeks, with Morisset forfeiting in the final round, should not be a problem for this hard-working team who went through the season with just one loss.
“They have worked really hard on the track and deserve the success they have had,” Wright said of his young charges during the season. “They are a really tight group and want success and know they have to work for.”
Easts took out the minor premiership with a three-game break over their opposition and smashed Windale 44-16 in the major semi-final.
It was an even sweeter victory after their opponents had labelled them the “softest team in the comp” – an unwise move against a team coached by Wright, the son of the hardest Maitland Picker of them all Merv Wright.
The forward pack led by props Hayden Dimmock and Chad Irvine have given their halves Clinton Connors and Clint Field a great platform to marshal their attack.
Fullback Greg Morris has taken full advantage scoring 17 tries from nine games to lead the comp. But there are plenty of other attacking options from a team which averaged almost 40 points and conceded just 17.5 a game
Ants set for grand end to season
The Aberglasslyn Ants have bounced back from their first loss in two years to book a spot in Saturday’s grand final.
The Ants defeated Raymond Terrace 28-8 in the NHRL Ladies League Tag A-grade preliminary final with Alyssa Shoulders scoring a hat-trick.
Reigning premiers Aberglasslyn Ants renew their fierce rivalry with University of Newcastle in Saturday’s Ladies League Tag A-grade grand final.
University inflicted the Ants first loss in two years of competition beating them 16-8 in the major semi-final, but the Aberglasslyn girls bounced straight back.
The Ants accounted for Raymond Terrace 28-8 in the preliminary final to make their second grand final in a row against Uni.
Alyssa Shoulders starred with a hat-trick, with her sister Caitlin, Jess Akers and Hayley Eveleigh also scoring tries. Halfback Jess Cassidy kicked two goals.
Kick off in the grand final at Newcastle No.1 Sportsground is at 10.45am.
