There’s been adversity on both sides of the ledger as the Toukley Hawks and Erina Eagles build towards Sunday’s Central Coast Rugby League first grade Grand Final.
For Erina it almost feels they have a divine right to the 2022 Premiership as they have sat on the top of the ladder for so long waiting to get the chance to play for the silverware.
“We were undefeated last year through 10 games before things shut down again after 2020, so this has really been two years in the making,” Erina coach Dane Allen said.
The Eagles finished Minor Premiers in 2022 having lost only one game (11-1 record) this year to reinforce the benchmark they have set.
For Toukley, who have never made a Grand Final since the club was established in 1967, they’ve had an unplayable home ground all season due to the damage done by floodwater and drainage issues.
“I literally haven’t even driven into the carpark at our home ground,” Toukley coach Jake Fitzpatrick said of Darren Kennedy Oval.
“We haven’t even had one training session there that’s how bad it’s been – just crazy.”
Fitzpatrick plays fullback for the Hawks and says his ‘homeless’ teammates took it all in their stride.
“We’ve got a good group of boys – unbelievable people,” he said.
“They are obviously good footballers but they’re even better people outside of football.
“We have had that much adversity this year, things going against us outside of the actual games themselves, but they haven’t waivered.
“It’s the reason why we’ve made it through to Sunday.”
The stage is set after two years of disruption for the Tooheys Cup Central Coast Grand Final at EDSACC Oval, home of The Entrance Tigers at Bateau Bay. Kick-off is 3.30pm.
Allen said the Eagles had kept their preparation low-key despite the hype and anticipation.
“We are feeling refreshed after beating Wyong two weeks ago to earn the week off,” he said.
“We’ve kept things on the downlow this week and focused on ourselves and what we want to do.
“But there are, I think, four players in Toukley’s side that used to play for Erina so we know a fair about how they like to play.”
That preparation would include how to stop Fitzpatrick, who scored one of the Hawks’ three tries in the 19-18 win over Wyong last weekend and kicked the winning field goal.
“We got to the right post because I’m a left-footer and I was about 35 metres out,” Fitzpatrick said.
“The funniest thing is the oval we have been training at this year hasn’t got goal posts so I’ve not been able to practise any field goals.”
The ‘miracle one-pointer’ has put the Hawks on the path for a maiden premiership while the Eagles will be hoping to win their first Tooheys Cup since their 1991 triumph.
