Rugby league is the winner at the moment on the Sunshine Coast with the first NRL final we have ever hosted about to play out Friday night when the Storm take on the Sea Eagles.
It should be an awesome game of footy and a just reward for Coast fans after providing great support for every big game that has been played here over the past two years, rain hail or shine.
Well done to the Council, stadium staff and the Mayor for driving so hard in support of games in our region.
It is a real shame the Council and State couldn’t get Federal support for the Stadium upgrade as they have now lost the $11 million that was generously offered by Roy Thompson and Rod Forrester.
I believe any improvement has now been put back by a year or so, which makes things difficult when trying to host NRL games given Redcliffe’s Dolphin Oval has now been upgraded.
I am sure there will be plenty of noise about the Olympics and I guess the Feds will just have to chip in the other $11m. Must be nice to be able to knockback cash like Roy and Rod were offering.
Coast footy fever
Local league preliminary finals are on from midday Saturday at Shark Park, with the main game at 6.30pm between the Dogs and Swans looking like a cracking game of footy.
The winner will go up against the Dolphins next Saturday night in the big dance.
It must have been an awesome game last week when the Dolphins beat the Dogs by a Jack Lust field goal in the 76th minute.
I am the worst judge, but I just have a feeling the Swans might upset Beerwah. No matter what, it should be a great afternoon and evening at Shark Park, the home of the best footy ground steak burger on the Coast.
Must-win for the Falcons
Then Sunday there is a must-win game for the Falcons against the Capras after a brilliant effort to beat the Bears last weekend.
However, their season could be over before Sunday if the Pride beat Burleigh on Saturday night.
It’s also very special because the Falcons are farewelling three legends in Todd Murphy, Dane Hogan and Martin Cordwell at the conclusion of their ISC match at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Plus, at half time, the Falcons will be announcing life memberships to five men who have worked hard to get the organisation to where it is today.
But wait, there’s more! The Game Day is sponsored by our fantastic radio sponsors at 91.9 Sea FM and it is also part of the Women in League Round, where we get to thank all the amazing women involved in Rugby League.
Swans beaten by red-hot Sandgate
Hat’s off to the Southern Swans Colts who made the GF in their first season in the QAFL.
They were beaten by a red-hot Sandgate outfit, but making the final was a great effort.
As former Wallaby Coach Alan Jones used to say: “You never enjoy getting beaten but it is a little easier if whoever beat you played really well. It’s when you lose and both teams played poorly, that’s when it’s hard to swallow”.
In my view you probably need to play in one before you win one. In my mediocre career, I never played in a GF in the first 10 years I played footy. Then I played in nine out of the next 10 years and won six thanks to having good teammates.