Canberra Raiders Cup Reserve Grade: Grand Final Preview

The Gungahlin Bulls will look for Grand Final redemption in the Reserve Grade decider, whilst the Yass Magpies search for their maiden title in the Canberra Raiders Cup Reserve Grade competition. 

For the Gungahlin Bulls, they qualified for the 2025 premiership decider, with a gritty 24-6 win over the Magpies in the Major Semi Final a couple of weeks ago, with fullback and competition top try score Travis Vawdon stating the club trained together in the week off. 

"We had a team training session last week, with the whole club too so everyone got around each other and it was really good," Vawdon said.  

Despite claiming the victory, the Bulls are wary of the dangers which the Magpies present, especially in the middle of the field.

"Yass are definitely really strong in the middle but that's where we need to work our forwards, in the middle and then get around on the outside."

The Gungahlin Bulls suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2024 Reserve Grade decider, after leading 22-10 against the Rams, with Vawdon confident it will be a different result this weekend. 

"It is a similar squad, but we have had a few boys from last year's under 19s which have come through and I think it will be a different result this year." 

Whilst the Magpies, qualified for the Grand Final with a strong victory over the Bushrangers in the Preliminary Final, with fullback Liam Grame pleased with his sides ability to stay in the grind. 

"We did win the moments in the Preliminary Final, but I think it was also a bit of a grind and that's what we really focused on last week."

"It was just our grind, our discipline and our energy just around the whole team, and I think that's what got them in the end," Grame said. 

Having played the Bulls two weeks ago, Grame acknowledges that the difference in that contest was the Magpies inability to play the 70 minutes when compared to a quality Bulls outfit, with this being the key on the weekend.

"We played 65 minutes, and they played 70 and that's where it just drew out."

"It's always tough against the Bulls, but they are just a tough team, they are good around the pack, good on the edges and we just have to be up for it." 

The Magpies are chasing their own slice of history on Saturday, as they look to claim the first premiership in the Reserve Grade competition, with the side aware of how special it could be if they were successful in their quest. 

"I think it would be pretty special, not just for the team but the club, they would enjoy it a lot along with the town, they just love the Magpies so I think it would be really good for the team." 

Kick off for the Reserve Grade Grand Final is stated for 1:40PM with it a matchup you won't want to miss.