Past Brothers will attempt to become the first club to complete a hat-trick of Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership titles since they achieved the feat from 2010 to 2012 when they take on Hervey Bay Seagulls on Sunday.
The game promises to be another epic grand final at Salter Oval at 3.30pm.
The Seagulls have only contested the Bundaberg showpiece four times since joining the BRL, losing to the Brethren 38-12 in 2011, 32-20 in 2012, and 36-24 in 2015, with their only triumph coming in 2016 against Waves Tigers 20-12.
But the Baysiders placed second on the ladder, with Brothers third, and have lost only once to the Bundaberg powerhouses in four meetings this season, going down 42-22 with a much-depleted side in the qualifying final on July 30.
Brothers went on to edge out minor premiers Waves 20-18 in the major semi-final one week later, while Hervey Bay booked their place in the decider with victories over Wests Panthers 8-4 in the minor semi-final, and the Tigers 32-28 in a pulsating preliminary final last Saturday.
Brothers have made just one change to their major semi-final team, with multiple premiership-winning forward Logan Tanzer added to the interchange bench at the expense of Corey Findlay.
And while they have not played for three weeks, they have continued to train hard under coach Andrew Hamilton, and inspirational captain and front rower Kevin Sherriff, who has been an integral part of their past four premierships – the last two as captain – will again lead from the front.
Hervey Bay have made two changes to the team which upset the Tigers last week, with barnstorming second rower Max Shorter returning from suspension, forcing Travin Baumann to the bench, and Tyson Miller back from injury and on to the interchange list at the expense of Dylan Bennett.
The Seagulls will certainly have the advantage in match fitness and their coach Jacob Blanke is quietly confident of causing another upset.
“We have trained great this week and are prepared for a tough game we fill, and we have the team to match Brothers - we want to play our style of footy,” Blanke said.
The Seagulls will also contest the Reserve Grade decider against Wests, and they are also represented in Under 13 against Wallaroos, who will also contest Under 14 against the Panthers, and Under 18 against Brothers.
Brothers will also line up in Under 15 and Under 16, meeting Waves in both.
Program - Under 13 - 8am: Wallaroos vs Hervey Bay; Under 14 - 9am: Wallaroos vs West; Under 15 - 10am: Brothers vs Waves; Under 16 - 11.15am: Brothers vs Waves; Under 18 - 12.30pm: Brothers vs Wallaroos; Reserve Grade - 1.45pm: Hervey Bay vs Wests; A Grade - 3.30pm: Brothers vs Hervey Bay
A Grade – Past Brothers: 1. Tyrell Priestley, 2. Mitchell Clayton, 3. Connor Jones, 4. Zak Bainbridge, 5. Benaiah Kambanei, 6. Patrick Templeman, 7. Bryden Blair, 8. Royce Blair, 9. Eden Hess, 10. Kevin Sherriff (c), 11. Tien Nguyen, 12. Jake Thompson (vc), 13. Zac Dann, 14. Timothy Cole, 15. Tyla Hodge, 16. Justin Taylor, 17. Logan Tanzer.
Hervey Bay: 1. Ben Hudson, 2. Jerry Pati, 3. Chris Wicks, 4. Ethan Ballard, 5. Malachi Lawton, 6. Nicholas Collins, 7. David Woodbridge, 8. Steve Dwyer, 9. William Walthall, 10. Isaac Mielczarek, 11. Max Shorter, 12. Scott Walthall, 13. Logona Vetemotu, 14. Tiko Hooper, 15. Anthony Gray, 16. Travin Baumann, 17. Tyson Miller.
Main image: Past Brothers lethal lock Zac Dann charges into the line against Waves Tigers in the major semi-final.
