As Olympic fever fades the region is about to be hit with a severe case of finals fever as the region explodes with rugby league action this weekend including two grand finals and a local derby major semifinal.
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Across the Northern Region there will be two clubs hosting grand finals and six clubs hosting major and minor semi-finals, and every one of them could go either way.
Around the North West Group 4 has gone semi-final mad with six clubs hosting big days across the weekend with the newly tiered Second Division adding an extra finals series, and boon for those hosting clubs.
Despite some great match-ups in the lower divisions no game is bigger for the Group this weekend then the North Tamworth and West Lions major semifinal at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday.
Following a season of Bears dominance the Lions injected plenty of interest in the finals when they launched a big upset over the Bears last Sunday at Scully Park.
The physical Lions got under the Bears skin at times, and with key players returning to the fold the Lions all of a sudden look like a team full of points, although the Bears will return better for the experience according to coach Brad McManus.
“It is a bit disappointing but I would rather lose now than next week or in a few weeks time,” McManus said.
“They were just to good for us but you can’t win them all.”
“We will re-group and be in it all the way next week.”
In the minor semifinal Narabri will host Gunnedah after beating the Bulldogs last week to finish third.
This derby game also has plenty of history in it, most recently the Bulldogs upsetting Narabri in the same fixture last year.
Blues captain coach Lachie Cameron is confident his side can make more use of the home final this time around.
“We don’t need to do anything spectacular to win, just stick to our structures and take our opportunities,” Cameron said.
“If our forwards can lay the platform our backs will do their thing.”
Down the road at Boggabri, the Roos are hoping to put the master stroke on their centenary celebrations, when they also repeat last years Second Division Shield fixture, hosting Dungowan in the minor semi-final.
Werris Creek will be hosting the major semifinal against Uralla, and after dropping the first two games of the season before going on to win the remainder the Magpies will be hard to beat at David Taylor Park.
In the Shield minor premiers Walcha will host Manilla, while Bingara will host Quirindi in the minor.
In the Hunter’s Group 21 Scone have come the long way to the grand final.
After being crowned undefeated minor premiers the Thoroughbreds were upset by Muswellbrook in the major semifinal, but after a golden point victory over Aberdeen in the preliminary final Scone has a chance at revenge.
The MacIntyre Warriors almost share the same story as they prepare for the Group 19 grand final in Inverell.
The Boggabilla based side were also minor premiers before being beaten in the major by the Hawks and going on to beat Ashford last week.
This second finals match up certain to have emotions running high at Varley Oval on Sunday as the Warriors try to create history against a side in their third straight decider.