CRC Under 19s Grand Final Preview

The future of the CRRL will be on display on Saturday Morning with the West Belconnen Warriors and Tuggeranong Bushrangers facing off in the 2026 Under 19s Grand Final. 

The West Belconnen Warriors enter the Grand Final after earning the week off with a strong performance against the Bulls at Seears Workwear Oval, with captain Jack Leighton stating his side kept the same routine. 

"We took the week off and still trained on Saturday, we've kept the same routine and just looking forward to Saturday," Leighton said. 

In the Major Semi Final, the Warriors welcomed back First Grade players Blake Slater, Joaz Ayamiseba and Byron Cahill, with Leighton stating it was great to see them back in the side after training with them all year. 

"It was really good, they've been training with us all year and to have them back in our side gave us that little bit extra that we needed, it's good to have those boys back."

West Belconnen is wary of the dangers that the Tuggeranong Bushrangers present on the weekend, however, are ultimately focused on how they can produce their best form. 

"We just need to focus on we need to do to complete our gameplan, the focus has just been on ourselves rather what's happened in past games, it's a new game this weekend."

Whilst, for the Bushrangers they enter this matchup after two elimination final victories, with halfback Lachlan Buckley pleased to qualify for the decider, even if they took the longer road. 

"Really happy with it, we have taken the long way to get there but we have got it done," Buckley said. 

The Bushrangers are yet to beat the Warriors this season, with Saturday their best chance so far this year according to their captain, declaring his side is back at full strength. 

"We are looking forward to coming up against the Warriors because the last time we played them, we didn't have a full-strength squad."

"After the two games in finals, we've had our squad together and starting to get to the form that we want to."

This season saw Buckley crowned the competition's Best & Fairest for a second straight season, with halfback crediting his teammates for his strong year and will be turning to fullback Bassy Jones if the games on the line. 

"Having the team around me playing the way are helps me, having the players outside me like Bassy (Jones) and Johnny (De Mamiel) makes my job a lot easier." 

"It's got to be Bassy Jones, he's just silky so he is someone you always look to when you need."