YOUNG GUN: Sean Beecher won the under SIRU under 17s title last year and he will be out to help Griffith’s reserve grade side do the same against Hay tomorrow. Picture: Bec Goullet.
GRIFFITH Blacks under 17s co-coach John Beecher believes the only thing standing between his side and a Southern Inland Rugby title is themselves.
The Blacks will take on Waratahs at Conolly Park in what is the biggest game in the career of many of the budding stars, with revenge on their minds.
Wagga earned the week off after defeating Griffith in the first round of the finals, with the local side forced to earn its place in the decider after surviving a heart-stopping 22-21 win against Young last weekend.
Amazingly, Griffith managed to beat a full-strength Waratahs side with just 14 players twice during the regular season, but Beecher said that will matter little tomorrow.
"The difference in our first semi against Waratahs on the day was in the boys' thinking, they went in to the game thinking they had beaten them twice already," Beecher said.
"So the (semi-final) loss was a bit of a wake-up call for them and it was opportune that we could have another go in the semis."
With six Blacks' players also representing rugby league clubs Yenda and Black and Whites, Beecher said it can be a blessing and a curse for the side.
At times this year the part-time league backs have tended to drift too wide from their support forwards, resulting in them being isolated at the breakdown.
Beecher said correct running lines and starting with intensity will be two key items addressed in the lead-up to tomorrow's game.
"The hardest thing for us as coaches on any away game is them being a bit slow to warm up in the first 10 minutes or so in the game they can't afford to do that on the weekend," he said.
"Because being a grand final where anything can happen, there's no real way to predict what is going to happen.
"But if they can find it in themselves to remain focused on what they need to do out there then they will be very tough to beat."
Sean Ngu is nursing a knee injury and is hopefully of being right to play, while George Ratlailai failed to finish last weekend's game due to injury.