Picking the superior side out of Casey Warriors, the title holders, and Werribee Bears, the challengers, at this stage of the NRL Victoria first-grade season would amount to little more than nitpicking.
All roads are leading to these powerhouses featuring in a grand final re-match at the culmination of the 2016 season.
They occupy first and second on the ladder after 12 rounds and have already served up two absorbing contests this season.
The Bears won the first game, back in April, by four points in a dour, low-scoring game at Casey Fields.
The Warriors returned fire with a four-point win in a more free-wheeling game at Haines Drive Reserve on Saturday.
Bears player-coach Phil Pese said all the signs were that the two closely matched sides would star in the 2016 grand final.
“Every single player on the day came and played all the way to the end, the full 80 minutes,” he said after Saturday’s match.
“Every game we’ve played against each other in the past two years has been hard … a lot of sore bodies.
“To know that Casey is the biggest club in Victoria at the moment and we’re the second biggest makes for a good game.”
The Bears thought they had victory in the bag when Mefiposeta Ioane crossed for his second try with two minutes to go.
The Bears led 18-16 but some ill discipline in the dying seconds put Casey into try-scoring territory. The Warriors needed no second invitation, scoring the winning try with 30 second left.
“I can’t point my finger where Casey were better than us,” Pese said. “At the end of the day, they won, they played good, but it was pretty much punch-for-punch all game. Casey capitalised when it counted the most.”
Forward Josh Makiri stood strong for Werribee against the Casey forward pack.
Makiri played the game as if there was no tomorrow for his side.
“He was tackling, he was running, he played as if it was a grand final,” Pese said. “He played aggressive both on attack and defence.”
New recruit Andrew Holani showed what he can do in the halves. He has played at a high level with the Auckland Vulcans, so is a key addition to the Bears in the run to the finals.
“He’s a really good pick up for our team, with his experience and his skills in directing the team around,” Pese said “His addition to the team kind of completes the puzzle.
“We’ve been missing a true half … he brings that and plays lock as well.”
Werribee faces another tough contest when it visits third-placed Northern Thunder on Saturday. The Thunder has been the surprise packet this season and could replace the Bears in second with a win.
