In order for Bathurst Bulldogs to end an eight-year Blowes Clothing Cup title drought this Saturday, it will require a mighty effort from every player that pulls on the blue and gold.
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From the hard-tackling, fast-running backs, to a stout and mobile pack, to the depth on the bench – all must fire to topple to Orange Emus.
But if there is one area that holds a particular key, it will be the Bulldogs’ engine room.
If the Bathurst pack can match their experienced and talented rivals in the scrum and at the breakdown, it could just give Bulldogs the edge they need.
It’s an edge tight head prop Joel Harper will do an utmost to provide.
“They are definitely a big pack, we aren’t the biggest but I reckon we’ve got them, I reckon we’ve got more skill and more heart,” he said.
“The scrum is going to be a big part of it I think, that’s my first job – to help us dominate the scrum. If we can do that, then it will just flow through the rest of the game.”
However, he does bring with him the experience of playing in previous grand finals, so he has an idea of what to expect on Saturday afternoon.
“I played a little bit last year, but this is my first full season with Bulldogs in first grade,” Harper said.
“I’ve enjoyed it, I've loved every second of it.
“In 2015 we won our colts grand final and then I played in grand finals the last two years, one with third grade and one with seconds, and we lost those two.
“Yeah, I’m definitely due,” he added with a chuckle.
Though it has been sometime since a Bulldogs’ first XV has beaten Emus at Endeavour Oval and wet conditions are expected on Saturday, it does not make Harper question the ability of his side to win.
“The first time we played them in the wet, it was freezing and snowing almost – we learned a lot from that game,” he said.
“We’ve also had a wet game since and we went alright in that, so if it rains I reckon we’ll be sweet.
“(Coach Dean) Oxley said there are no expectations really. We can win it, we know we can win it. Everyone else thinks we can’t, but we know we can.
“Hopefully we come out the better side with the pressure and get one up on them.”
Kick-off in Saturday’s grand final is at 3.30pm.
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