Club Corner is back with the biggest weekend in Australian club rugby!
A mammoth four Grand Finals are set to be played out this weekend in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne, and considering the teams that have made it to each respective big dance, and how many hoodoos could be broken, we could be set for one of the most fascinating climaxes to the rugby season on the eastern seaboard in years.
Meanwhile, finals are set to get underway in Perth and Tasmania, with the last round of regular season nationwide kicking off in Adelaide.
Watch every minute of club rugby on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
NEW SOUTH WALES: CHARTER HALL SHUTE SHIELD - GRAND FINAL - NORTHS VS. RANDWICK
A century of rugby history comes to a head this weekend at Leichhardt Oval, as the two stalwarts of the competition do battle. Last weekend’s semi finals saw two strong clashes play out at North Sydney Oval, with the Shoreman brushing aside Manly 23-5, while Randwick overcame a strong Eastwood outfit to win 38-20.
The result will be a clash that is likely to please old fans and new. Since Norths ended their premiership drought in 2016 the competition has felt like it has had new life breathed into it from renewed broadcast deals and interest.
Norths looked the best they have in weeks in their win over the Marlins, timing their run well and showing why they are the minor premiers. With great game management and knowing when to pull their punches, they’ll likely be favourites for this weekend, and this is their best opportunity since that famous 2016 title win to create more great history. Where did those seven years go?
However, they won’t be favourites by much. This Galloping Greens side are living up to their moniker, with a ruthless attack that few teams have been able to stop, including Norths themselves, who went down to them in Round Fourteen. That was the last time the Shoreman have lost this year. It’s hard to believe, but it’s been nearly twenty years since the Wicks held the Shield aloft. If there is any time to break that hoodoo, it is now.
Expect a great crowd to turn up this weekend!
Watch every minute of Shute Shield on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
QUEENSLAND: STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP - GRAND FINAL - WESTS VS. BROTHERS
The Hospital Cup season will come to an end this weekend as well on hallowed ground, with the revamped Ballymore the setting for a thrilling clash between the two best attacking sides this year.
Brothers have had a tough finals run but have looked outstanding, putting away a strong Easts outfit on their home turf, before demolishing Bond University last week 17-42 to deny the Bull Sharks an inaugural grand final appearance. With their attack looking especially vicious, the Brethren will be looking to break a seven year drought on the title, and this team has the meddle to do it.
Standing in their way, however, are the defending champions. Wests have had a chaotic season, spluttering in the early stages before coming home emphatically in the latter half of the season and showing why they are so strong. They’ll be chasing their fifth title, and with similarly strong attacking weapons all over the park, fresh off the bye week, they will have good reason to feel confident that they can repeat the heroics of last year.
Odds are, the best defence will win on the day. All roads will lead to Ballymore!
Watch every minute of Hospital Challenge Cup on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - SEMI FINALS
And then, there were four. Wests Scarborough, UWA, Palmyra and Associates will dook it out this weekend in the West, which sets the stage for a thrilling final next week.
First clash will be a fantastic match at Bennett Park; Wests have been looking better and better with each passing week, showing their championship mindset with critical victories over strong performers like Palmyra and Cottesloe. It is incredible to think that early in the season they were sitting dead last. How times change.
UWA will be coming into this game in mixed form, having started the season strongly and tapering off in the last few rounds. While this is still a dangerous side, concerns are that the punch and ability to close out games they had earlier this year might have diminished to the point where they could be at risk of being knocked out this weekend. It ain’t finals footy for nothing.
Palmyra will host Cottesloe at Tompkins Park in the other semi final, continuing their great form by locking down the minor premiership with a win over the Gulls last week. Their attack has been outstanding this year, and they look like the team to beat out of the remaining four sides.
Associates, meanwhile, have slipped under the radar for many, chipping away with win after win to slip into fourth place. They’ve shown they can put on strong performances when they need to, and they definitely will this weekend if they’re looking to go through to next week.
Watch the FMG Premier Grade now on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: BENTSPOKE JOHN I DENT CUP - GRAND FINAL - GUNGAHLIN EAGLES VS. TUGGERANONG VIKINGS
Viking Park will be buzzing once again this weekend with the final match in the Capital this year. Last weekend’s preliminary final saw the Vikings win 42-29 over the Royals, setting the stage for this weekend where they taking on the Gungahlin Eagles for the Cup. It’s north side vs. south side, in classic Canberra fashion!
The Eagles have not lifted the John I Dent Cup in twenty years, despite making regular features in finals. The last few seasons however, they have been progressing and progressing. With them being able to knock off the Vikings in their last two fixtures, now looms as the perfect time to end that hoodoo.
Tuggeranong know how to play finals footy, and they’ve been in this situation many times before. They know what it looks like, they know how to close out these games, and they’ll be at home in front of their fans. If anyone expects their late dip in form to impact them in this game, their win over the Royals last week showed that they are more than on the comeback, they are ready. It’s incredible to think that it’s been nearly five years since they last held the title, the longest gap between drinks for the Vikings since their inaugural title in 1994.
Viking Park is one of the best places in the country to watch rugby, and this weekend’s game will be a cracker!
VICTORIA: VAILO DEWAR SHIELD - PRELIMINARY FINAL - HARLEQUINS VS. ENDEAVOUR HILLS
Box Hill Rugby Club will be the setting for the Dewar Shield Grand Final, and after what has been an incredibly competitive season in Victoria, it’s fair to make the call that the strongest two teams remain.
Endeavour Hills saw off a determined Power House in last week’s preliminary final 27-24, confirming their title credentials in seeing off such a strong finishing side. The Eagles have been the only team to defeat Harlequins this year, and each clash between the two sides has served up the best Victorian homegrown rugby has to offer. History is on the line for them here, with the Hills having never won it in their time in the competition. They have it in them to do it.
However, standing in their way, like in Brisbane, are the defending champions. Harlequins have barely put a foot wrong all year, making up for their loss to the Eagles by returning the favour when they hosted them late in the regular season. They will be favourites for this match to go back-to-back, but given how many twists and turns this season has served, they’ll know as much as anyone the threat the Eagles pose.
Get down to RHL Sparks Reserve this weekend for a thrilling end to the Victorian rugby season!
TASMANIA: TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - SEMI FINALS
Finals are upon us in the Apple Isle, with only four sides remaining after a competitive final weekend.
Launceston and Taroona will square off in the first match of the semi finals at Royal Park, which looms as the match of the weekend given the competition has been a two way horse race between them this year.
Devonport and Burnie Emus will square off in the second match at Don Recreation Oval, with both sides keen to capture some of their strongest form throughout this season. Expect two massive games this weekend!
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND EIGHTEEN
The final regular season round of the year nationwide will kick off this weekend in Adelaide, with finals all locked in and clubs looking to finish their seasons on a high. How those finals placings will look may change, with Burnside able to overtake Brighton and Southern Suburbs looking to wrestle third place back from Old Collegians.
Fixtures
Port Adelaide - BYE
Burnside v Woodville
Onkaparinga v Elizabeth
Old Collegians v Adelaide University
Brighton v Souths
Enjoy your club footy this weekend, wherever you are.
