NSW Super League Grand Final Preview
It is bound to be an epic encounter, with the memories of the qualifying final three weeks ago still fresh. On that occasion, St George emerged the victors on penalties after an intriguing two hours of football but the Tigers have now earned the right to exact revenge.
This will be Northern Tigers? third Grand Final in their short history, after having competed in the first division Grand Final of 2003 and then the Super League Grand Final of 2007.
On both occasions the Tigers were defeated and so they are more than determined to claim their first Championship. Three members of the team remain from their Premiership side of 2007, captain Paul Davies, top scorer Tom Spencer and midfielder Brendan Salameh. Those three, in particular, will want to ensure that, this time, they claim a winner?s medal.
But consider St George. The last Grand Final that the Saints competed in was way back in 1987, when the National Soccer League was the dominant competition in the country. A member of that victorious St George side was then Socceroos international keeper, Mike Gibson, whose son Brad, is a member of the current St George squad. That is a long time between Grand Finals in anyone?s language.
So both clubs will certainly be up for this. There is only a whisker between the two sides, a win to each and a draw over the season, although the Tigers perhaps shade on the basis of St George?s penalty win. The Tigers should be at full strength too, one of the features of the side this season has been the settled nature of the team which seems to pick itself. Again, it is the strike force of Tom Spencer, now with fifteen goals to his credit, and Sungyun Park who will keep the St George defence busy.
Out wide, Paul Davies and Max Glanville, soon to link up with the Central Coast Mariners youth team, will also be one to watch for St George. They will also do well to keep an eye on Rhys Williams, whose box-to box runs have become something of a feature.
The Saints will be without their captain, Simon Verrender. The long time St George stalwart, in his thirteenth season with the club, misses the match through suspension. Who coach Nick Orlic chooses to replace the midfielder with, remains to be seen.
Up front, St George have riches aplenty. Denis Cutura, Juan Chavez and Christian Cevenini will all be vying for a starting spot, maybe all three will gain a start, as they did against Parramatta Eagles in the major semi. All can certainly score goals that?s for sure.
This match fully deserves to be the season?s final. How it pans out, we can only wait and see.
There will be three eagerly anticipated matches prior to the big match where the Super League Grade 20?s will see Parramatta Eagles tackle St George at 12.30pm. While in the day?s first two matches, the Grade 11 Metropolitan Representative League Grand Final will see Eastern Suburbs clash with St George at 9.30am followed by the Grade 12?s Metropolitan Representative League Grand Final between Gladesville Hornsby Association v Southern Districts at 11am.
Reports on all matches will appear on the Football NSW website as well as the option to purchase the Grand Final on DVD from all games played on the day with a story and form on this set to appear next week on the front page of Football NSW?s website.
Match Day Run-Down
Grade 11 Metropolitan Representative League Grand Final
Eastern Suburbs Association v St George Association ? 9.30am
Grade 12 Metropolitan Representative League Grand Final
Gladesville Hornsby Association v Southern Districts Association ? 11am
Super League Grade 20?s Grand Final
Parramatta Eagles v St George ? 12.30pm
Super League Grand Final
St George v Northern Tigers ? 3pm
-By Peter Rowney
