Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters will create history when they face each other in the Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final with the two teams having never played each other in a decider in the Under 21s competition since it first kicked off in 1961.
Adding even more intrigue to the clash at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 24 September is that it has been 20 years since both clubs have tasted premiership success in Jersey Flegg Cup with the Bulldogs last title coming in 2003 and the Roosters in 2004.
The Bulldogs are the most successful club in the competition, winning nine premierships, and the playing group will be hoping to add to that tally on Sunday.
“It would be massive to win,” Bulldogs skipper Joseph O’Neill told nswrl.com.au.
“We have been talking about it a lot during the week, we know how big it would be for the club.
“We have been focusing on training, taking it day by day and hopefully come away with the result on the weekend.”
The Roosters have claimed three Jersey Flegg Cup premierships (1995, 2002, 2004) and are also determined to end a long run of outs.
“It would mean everything to the club,” Roosters back-rower Phoenix Steinwede said.
“We are aware of the privilege we have being in this position we are in now.
“We have worked really hard, and we will take it with both hands, and it would mean a lot if we can get away with the win this weekend.”
The Roosters claimed the Minor Premiership in 2023; however the Bulldogs were nipping at their heels after finishing second on the ladder.
The decider will be the fourth time these two teams have come head-to-head this season – the last time being the Major Semi-final a fortnight ago where the Bulldogs came out on top 26-6.
“It definitely gives us confidence,” O’Neill said.
“However, we know that we need to go one better and improve and perform a lot better than how we played two weeks ago against the Roosters.
“We are focusing our mind set on this week’s game.”
Coming off their win against the Parramatta Eels in the Preliminary Final, which saw the tricolours fight back from a 16-4 deficit, the Roosters are confident they can turn the tables on the Bulldogs this time around.
“We are on a high after last week’s win however we are back to the drawing board and back to basics this week,” Steinwede said.
“That’s the best thing about footy, we had a bad loss two weeks ago but it’s a new week.
“The last game against the Bulldogs wasn’t really us and who we are trying to be.
“We will take everything we can and give it everything we got.”
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