A senior grand final day on their home turf and their top grades all contesting silverware?!
Something is definitely cooking at Nerang in 2024.
Club secretary and 3rd grade captain Aaron 'Azza' Cook will be wearing many hats on Saturday, as he prepares to host the biggest day on the GCDRU senior rugby calendar.
At 11:15am though, his full attention will turn to the challenge of knocking over Alleygators in the 3rd grade final.
We chatted to Azza about the occasion, and how his thirsty thirds are cooking up a plan to dine out on gator meat.
Azza: It's a huge occasion to have all 3 sides in a home GF. There's definitely some pressure being a home crowd but we will turn that into a positive with the support of the Nerang faithful to bring us home.
It's a daunting place at times for travelling teams, as our crowd is very passionate and vocal.
Azza: We had the Tuesday off training last week to rest some sore bodies but got back into it Thursday, as a few of the boys appeared for seconds in the prelim on Saturday against Knights.
We keep the same structure and preparation as we don't change anything that's not broken.
Azza: Our success is contributed to the boy's overall commitment and hunger to play well and improve.
Our coaching team does an amazing job in having the right game plan and preparation sorted week in week out, to make sure we continually developed as a team.
Azza: Yeah, they got us in round one and surprised us with how hungry they were for the contest.
We gave away too many penalties and gave them opportunities to take penalties and keep score board pressure.
Azza: Look they're a young, fit and hungry side.
They're going to try and run us around and use their tactical kicking to move our big forward pack around. It's a game of two styles - young, fit and fast against a big, direct team.
We're well aware of their ability to get the ball in behind and keep pressure on form their kicking game. They are fast and mobile in defence, and we have to be on our game to wear them down.
Azza: Our backline is electric, we just need good go forward to give the speed men the room to work their magic!
Nerang tackle PBC Alleygators at 11:15am at Nerang on Saturday, 24 August
