We thought we’d mix things up for this NRC Grand Final Preview between the Canberra Vikings and Brisbane City. Ordinarily either I or Steve Lenthall would do the preview and it would obviously be tainted towards either of our respective teams. Given this is a game that is too bloody tight to call, we’ve pulled the old switcheroo as you will see below.
The Case for Brisbane City
(by Mr Canberra Rugby himself – Steve Lenthall)
Season so far:
Brisbane City have swept all before them this season having heard their victory song after every game and have held the Horan/Little shield since beating Melbourne way back in round 2, in fact, Brisbane have won 13 games in a row dating back to 2014 which is some feat.
Why they will win:
Built on the back of an impressive forward pack with a dominant scrum and an equally impressive backline led by leading point scorer Jake McIntyre, City have shown their ability to score from all over the park with an average of almost 50 points a game in 2015.
These two sides faced off recently with City getting off to a great start then managing holding off a fast finishing Vikings side with Gill’s experience proving the difference in that game so they’ll know what’s coming their way this time around.
With the newly named Ballymore Kid and leading try scorer in 2015, Junior Laloifi, waiting out on the wings, City will be looking to get him the ball as often as possible on a fast Ballymore track and keep the Vikings defenders on their toes as they look to defend their title.
Key Players:
Liam Gill has been exceptional for Brisbane this year and his battle with Jarrad Butler will go a long way to deciding this game. He’s not just a one man show in the forward pack though, with Cadeyrn Neville and the front row trio of Pettowa Paraka, Andrew Ready and Sam Talakai stepping up to get through the hard yakka.
Jake McIntyre has shown the type of play why the Reds have signed him up for two years and his direction of the backline and combination with Samu Kerevi and Karmichael Hunt has proved vital to their success so far this season.
Brisbane City: 1. Matt Mafi, 2. Andrew Ready, 3. Sam Talakai, 4. Ben Hyne, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Luke Beauchamp, 7. Liam Gill (c), 8. Adam Korczyk, 9. Nick Frisby, 10. Jake McIntyre, 11. Junior Laloifi, 12. Henry Taefu, 13. Samu Kerevi, 14. Chris Kuridrani, 15. Karmichael Hunt.
16. Ryan Freney, 17. Markus Vanzati, 18. Feao Fotuaika, 19. Corey Thomas, 20. Waita Setu, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Alex Gibbon, 23. Mika Tela.
The Case for the Canberra Vikings
(By Queensland Rugby fan boy – RugbyReg)
Season so far:
It’s stating the obvious, but the Canberra Vikings have been the biggest improvers this year. They finished 6th last year, with just two losses which sat them alongside the likes of Queensland Country and the North Harbour Rays. This year they’ve beaten all-comes other than their Grand Final counterparts, Brisbane, who just beat the Vikings by 6 points in Round 8. Both teams have pretty much identical for and against, indicating just how close both sides are.
Why they will win:
The Vikings have the premier pack in the competition with Super Rugby players in all positions. They’ve built their success this year around their dominance at the set piece through a massive scrum and dominant lineout. The Vikings will use the lineout to launch their almost unstoppable driving maul which has provided their captain, Jarrad Butler, with eight tries this season.
Their set piece strength, and strong metres gained through the likes of Allan Alaalatoa, Robbie Abel and Ita Vaea, has freed up space for their halves (Joe Powell and Christian Lealiifano) to dictate the game from there.
The Viking backs will look to take a leaf out of last week’s Sydney Stars play book by being highly physical and aggressive in defence in an effort to keep their dangerous Brisbane backs out of the game for as long as possible.
Key Players:
Hooker Robbie Abel is probably the least known player in the Viking pack. Ironically he started at hooker for the Perth Spirit in their Grand Final against Brisbane City last year. Despite his obvious big match experience, Abel is the fulcrum of all that is key to the Vikings. The big scrum, the on-point lineout and the metre making field running. City will be out to knock him off his game early.
Christian Lealiifano is the calm head that has proved crucial for the Vikings in 2015. Last year they relied on Robbie Coleman or Isaac Thompson and neither were able to get their backline moving. Lealiifano has shown his Wallaby-level class week after week in dictating the game his team has needed to reach their inaugural NRC Grand Final.
Canberra Vikings: 1. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Robbie Abel, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Dean Oakman-Hunt, 7. Jarrad Butler (c), 8. Ita Vaea, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Jerome Niumata, 12. Rodney Iona, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. James Dargaville, 15. Isaac Thompson.
16. Albert Anae, 17.Sione Taula, 18. Leslie Leulua’iala’i-Makin, 19. Michael Oakman-Hunt, 20. Rowan Perry, 21. Brent Hamlin, 22. Mitch Third, 23. Francis Fainifo.
Match Details:
Broadcast Details:
FOX SPORTS’ Broadcast Schedule
LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE ON FOX SPORTS 502
BRISBANE CITY v UC VIKINGS
SAT 31 OCT, 3.00pm AEST (So 3pm in Brisbane, 4pm further south).
