GREATER Northern Academy plays its “grand finals” at Coffs Harbour this weekend.
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The GNA Tigers and Cubs, fresh from their first hit-outs against Newcastle Knights squads last Saturday in Cessnock match up against Northern Rivers and North Coast academies tomorrow.
The Tigers are coming off a 34-4 loss to the Knights but head coach Matt Kenny wasn’t disappointed by the 30- point loss.
Rather he was happy with the performance from his 20-player squad that was playing a Knights squad of about 40 that had played at least three trials.
“I’m not unhappy with it,” Kenny said after the initial trial.
“We can take away a lot from it.
“It was a trial. Next week’s games are the ones we want.”
His Tigers will be at full strength after Kydan Howard received the all-clear from medical staff.
Howard received a head knock in last week’s loss but is right to go, GNA manager Scott Bone said.
“He’s right and Bailey Taylor is also back from his State Touch commitments to play for the Cubs.”
The Cubs are coming off a 12-8 win over the Knights and head coach Peter Stevens is confident they can improve markedly on that three try to two success.
“It was a great trial for us, first up,” he said.
“We controlled the ball well.
“We’ll go to Coffs confident. They are our grand finals.
“And we do enjoy beating them (North Coast and Northern Rivers).
“But it’s also a good way to finish.”
The GNA Cubs and Tigers arrive in Coffs Harbour today and have a goal-setting night this evening before starting their games from 8.30am tomorrow.
NSWRL and CRL high performance manager Matt Parish will be one interested onlooker and State Of Origin coach Laurie Daley might also be there, Bone said.
“It’s a big weekend and finish for the boys,” he said.