It's finally here. After three months of hit-ups, knock downs and end to end action, the American National Rugby League season reaches a crescendo this weekend with the 2010 Grand Final.
The New Haven Warriors and Jacksonville Axemen will meet at AA Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken, PA, Saturday afternoon to determine a new national champion.
It promises to be one of the most competitive AMNRL title games in the league’s 13-year history as both teams come into the big game undefeated.
The Warriors are the #1 seed by virtue of a slightly better points differential, but make no mistake, there is nothing in it.
They both know how to find the tryline, both have several strike weapons who can influence the outcome of a game at any time and both teams are rock solid on defense.
In fact, defense could play a major role in determining which team is crowned champion. Should either one slip up by not marking up or by missing crucial tackles, it could be curtains at the end of what has been an extremely successful season for both clubs.
The two teams have one other thing in common, both have been there before. New Haven made its debut Grand Final appearance in 2008 when they won it all by downing Aston, while Jacksonville got to the championship game last year for the first time only to be topped by the New York Knights.
The Warriors have been led all season long by veteran skipper Siose Muliumu, who has had great back up from Noel Tupou, Roy Leoni and Derek Roma.
Any one of these guys can bust one out at any time; all are dangerous with ball in hand.
Likewise, Jacksonville’s unbeaten run has been spearheaded by playmaker Brent Shorten at five-eighth. He too has had a great supporting cast in Craig Howitt, Apple and Taco Pope and Kenny Britt. And is the case with their rivals, any one of these players can cut one loose.
“We as a club are very honored to be participating in our second Grand Final, when only four years young as a member of the AMNRL competition,” New Haven CEO Adam Hamon tells ARN.
“Both the Axemen and Warriors are four years young and this is an honor for both teams to be playing one another in the 2010 Grand Final. We have not met since 2009 where they beat us at home.”
The occasion is also not lost on the Jacksonville franchise.
“New Haven is a quality side and they’re going to be tough,” adds Axemen co-founder Spinner Howland.
“There’s a bit more pressure on us this year with our fans expecting us to win. They’re used to us doing well at home and for them the next big thing to bring home is a championship.”
The bottom line is that Saturday’s Grand Final shapes up as a high-octane, highly charged Rugby League contest worthy of determining a new champion.
The game will be broadcast ‘live’ starting at 3p (EST). The broadcast will be hosted by
www.wearerugby.com so don’t miss a minute of the hard-hitting action.
