Canberra Raiders Cup Reserve Grade: Grand Final Preview

The Queanbeyan Kangaroos will travel cross-town to meet a refreshed and reloaded Gungahlin Bulls in the Canberra Raiders Cup Reserve Grade Grand Final this Sunday afternoon.

Gungahlin Bulls v Queanbeyan Kangaroos, 1:40pm, Seiffert Oval

The Gungahlin Bulls will be well-rested after clinching this season's minor premiership, followed by a win in the major semi-final to book an early ticket in this 2022 Grand Final.

In fact, their 24-20 major semi-final win was all that more important being over the team they meet this Sunday, the Queanbeyan Kangaroos.

The Roos were forced to do it the hard way, tackling the Yass Magpies 23-10 in the preliminary final last Sunday.

Captain Coach Troy Whiley spoke about the confidence within the playing group after their stunning win over Yass.

"Obviously you can't go into finals without having good preparation, and I think beating Yass on the weekend was the good preparation we needed."

However, Whiley isn't taking the Bulls lightly and knows the job at hand this Sunday is going to be a tough one.

"The Bulls have been the side to beat all year, they're the minor premiers for a reason.

We just need to shut down their go-forward. If we can do that, I think we can get the win."

One of the Bulls key go-forward players, Cody Smith, touched on how beneficial the week off has been for their preparations ahead of this weekend.

"It's not too bad, relaxing after the week off. A few sore bodies but we're just relaxed."

Smith also touched on their week one finals win over the Roos and that they have plenty to work on if they're to replicate it this Sunday.

"[We take] plenty of confidence but it was a pretty ordinary game from us.

[The focus is] our discipline. We cost too many errors and penalties, and let them march up the field."

The early forward pack battle will set the benchmark for the remainder of the game, where both sides have the strike power out wide to break the game open.

This match will create the perfect curtain raiser to first grade, highlighting and capping off a great reserve grade season full of talent.