The Werribee Bears have devoured the entree – now they’re eyeing up the main course.
The Bears became the inaugural NRL Victoria 9s champions on Friday night, but have bigger fish to fry this weekend, taking on Casey Warriors in the Victorian first-grade grand final at Casey Fields on Saturday.
“It’s a very big week for us,” Bears captain Chase Hoare told Star Weekly.
“We’re preparing well for it, we’re doing everything right. We’ve come in a lot more settled than last year.”
Werribee is seeking first-grade redemption – and there’s no better way to do it than against Casey, the side that downed the Bears 12 months ago in the season decider.
Despite qualifying for the finals in second, the Bears will go into the big one as slight favourites after smashing the Warriors in the first week of the finals.
Having tasted grand final defeat at the hands of the same opponents last season, there is no chance of the Bears – searching for their first top-flight title – getting ahead of themselves.
“It’s going to be a good game against them,” Hoare said.
“We put a good number on them last time [in a 32-10 semi-final win], but that was only one game.
“I think we’ve got the team to do it, but it’s going to come down to the better team on the day.
“A lot of us are healed up nice and fine now after the break, so we’re ready to rock ’n’ roll.”
Werribee won the final of the 9s competition with a 30-10 victory over Casey at AAMI Park on Friday night. The competition has been well received by Victorian clubs, giving them the chance to play on a big stage before Melbourne Storm games and promote the local competition.
Bears player-coach Phil Pese was rewarded with player of the tournament honours.
“It was a big privilege to be able to play in the competition and to go on and win the title,” Hoare said.
“The speed of the game is definitely a step up because there’s not as many on the field … the team that we fielded was a pretty fast side and we adjusted to that.
“It’s the first year running … hopefully we can make it a bit of a tradition to win the title.”
