RUGBY LEAGUE
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THE 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in the NFL’s history to win the Superbowl with a perfect record and since then, rarely has a team dominated a competition like Orange Hawks have the Group 10 under 18 2015 season.
Much like Bob Griese, Earl Morrall and their Dolphin teammates the two blues qualified for the 2015 finals undefeated - 14 points is the smallest amount Hawks have won by this year - and are desperate to keep their perfect record intact throughout their play-offs campaign, which kicks off on Sunday.
After enjoying last week off courtesy of the minor premiership, Hawks take on Mudgee Dragons in Sunday’s major semi-final, at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sporting Complex - the game was controversially moved from Wade Park, gifting the Dragons a home-ground advantage.
“The boys understand how big a job they have this weekend,” Hawks coach Matt Boss said.
“Considering the season we’ve had I think it comes down to attitude. We’ve been great this week, training has probably been the best we’ve been all year really.
“[The game being moved] has definitely given the boys a bit of extra motivation I think, which is good, it saves me trying to think of other ways to motivate them.”
Obviously, Hawks have triumphed both times the two sides have clashed so far this year, winning 32-10 and 34-20.
“We’re confident,” Boss said.
“Mudgee have a good forward pack so the boys will need to stop their roll on through the middle.
“Other than that, we’ve really just worked on our goal line defence. It’s been great this year but we really wanted to shore it up.”
Boss has named a blockbuster side for tomorrow’s game, in fact six of the starting 13 are, or have been, regular premier league players in Jedd Kennedy, Steve Khatter, Brodie Christopherson, Deryne McKenzie, Luke Coyte and Nathan Potts.
“There is plenty of top grade experience there,” Boss said.
“And then we have guys like Kyle Robbins coming off the bench too, it’s a pretty strong unit.”
The under 18 major semi-final kicks off at 11am.
ORANGE HAWKS: 1 Jedd Kennedy, 2 Triston Roach, 3 Jack Aumuller, 4 Steve Khattar, 5 Kade Barrow, 6 Jye Barrow, 7 Brodie Christopherson, 8 Harry Gersbach, 9 Hayd’n Baragry, 10 Deryne McKenzie, 11 Hugh Taylor, 12 Luke Coyte, 13 Nathan Potts.