Do-or-die for Reef Raiders

It’s do-or-die for the Port Douglas Reef Raiders after FNQ Rugby voted this week to put the season on hold for two weeks because of Covid-19 restrictions in Cairns and head straight into the semi-finals.

This means that the defending champion Raiders, currently second on the Rainforestation Cup log table, have one chance to make the final and their opponents Barron Trinity Bulls will be playing for pride and to deny Raiders a place in the final.

It has yet to be decided if the Raiders-Barron match will be on August 27 or 28. The other semi-final is between JCU and Wanderers. The grand final will be on September 4 at Barlow Park.

The Raiders have been held to a draw and beaten Barron twice, most recently 22-20 in a tight encounter.
Raiders coach Travis Gooch, who pulled the club from the brink in the early stages of the season, is quietly confident, but also understands the pressure that goes with knock-out rugby.

“We no longer get a second chance with the change in finals format. However, we have been building the team up for this end of the season and whatever it throws at us. It just means knockout rugby comes a week earlier than expected for us,” said Gooch.

“With regards to preparation, we firstly need to get the guys mindset right; that it is now finals rugby and we get one shot at it. Training remains the same for us; however, we will up the intensity heading into the game week.

“The break does help. We have a number of guys with niggling injuries that should be good to go for the semi-final. We hope to have a near full squad to select from. The semi-finals have worked out to be the same match-ups as last year’s,” he said.