Titans challenge on road to rugby league finals

A CHALLENGING representative rugby league campaign has Northern Rivers coaches and players optimistic about bringing home the NSW Rugby League Regional Representative title next year.

The Northern Rivers Titans reached the open men’s final and women’s final, while the under-16 boys played in the Andrew Johns Cup final at GIO Stadium in Canberra.

The men lost its final 32-28 against Newcastle, while the women suffered a 46-6 loss against the Western Rams.

It was a narrow defeat for the under-16 boys with Newcastle Maitland holding on for a 14-10 win.

Northern Rivers rugby league Zone manager Wayde Kelly said it was a big effort for all three teams to get to the finals.

“We had several teams unable to train leading up to the finals as their grounds were completely under water,” he said.

“They had to make alternative arrangements like organising sessions in the gym, but that also had its problems with many roads cut across northern NSW and players wanting to stay with their families and properties.

“It’s a true testament of what can be achieved when everyone in the academy is pulling together to overcome any obstacles.

“This is the greatest representation of teams from the north that we’ve ever had for a regional reps grand final day.”

Open men’s coach Wayne Forbes said he was proud of his team who he said travelled more than 5000km for three games.

“With the cutthroat nature of the championships we understood from the start that each week we only had one opportunity to get it right,” he said.

“So, we went in with a fearless no regrets mindset.

The open women are the most successful female team to come out of the region while the junior boys were impressive playing five games before finals.