THE Mount Warrigal Kooris, over the past few seasons, have established themselves as the benchmark of the Group Seven Rugby League third grade competition.
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Since returning to the South Coast competition in 2017, the Kooris have rattled off three straight titles, including wins against Sussex Inlet, Wreck Bay and Sussex Inlet once again last season.
Then in 2020, they've chalked up seven wins and one draw, to book their spot in yet another decider.
"The 2020 season has been great for the boys, even though COVID-19 caused some chaos at the start," Kooris co-coach Jake Gill said.
Standing in the way of the Kooris' undefeated season and fourth consecutive premiership is Roberston, with the pair facing off from 3pm on Sunday at Ron Costello Oval.
"The grand final is the pinnacle of the season and it's what we all play footy for, Gill, who singled out the performances of Dylan Riggs, Treigh Stewart, Jack Walsh-McKiernan, Matt Tungai this season, said.
"To win a fourth straight title would be nothing short of amazing and it's a credit to all that have pulled on a Mount Warrigal jersey over these past few years.
"It's an accomplishment that hasn't been done before in Group Seven, so all the boys are keen to create their own slice of history come Sunday."
The Kooris and Spuddies have met on two occasions this season, with the premiers winning on both occasions - firstly 34-12 on August 22 and then 28-14 on September 12.
"The key to beating Robertson is to stick to playing our own style of footy," Gill, who played for the side during their past three titles before transitioning into the coaching ranks alongside Russell Roger Henry, said.
"They're a big side and have improved immensely from last year, so we can't take them lightly."
Contrastingly, Sunday's decider will be the Spuddies first since returning to Group Seven in 2018.
"The past couple of years we've been gradually finding our footing back in Group Seven," player/coach Damien Barton said.
"With COVID-19 and only having one team, this year has been quite different but one thing has stayed the same, which is we're about 90 per cent fun, 10 per cent footy."
While the Kooris finished the regular season as the top attacking side (224 points), the Spuddies were the competition's top defence outfit, only allowing 110 points.
"I can remember the first time we came up against the Kooris earlier in the season, I thought they were a great attacking side and were destined to be one of the grand final sides," Barton, who's played for the club for the past four seasons including coaching the last three, said.
"It was at that moment I knew we need to combat that and really started to concentrate on our defence.
"That part of our game has come on leaps and bounds the past month or so, especially in terms of our sliding defence and sharpening up our marker play.
"We've hung our hat on jamming teams down their own end because in my eyes, that's how you win games of footy."
The Spuddies qualified for the big dance by defeating Culburra 42-24 at the Bomaderry Sports Complex.
"We showed how much our defence has improved last week against Culburra," front-rower Barton said.
"They attacked strongly, especially early on and the scoreline didn't reflect just how tough the contest was."
That gutsy win, their fourth on the trot, qualified the Robertson Showground-based side their spot in the final, as they chase their maiden Group Seven premiership.
"The whole squad is very excited to be a part of the club's first grand final side but we are aware the job isn't done just yet," Barton, who praised the performances of Harrison Whatman, Mitchell Conquest, Tom Keft and Nathan Whatman this season, said.
"Mount Warrigal has been the benchmark of this competition for years and we know we have to come ready to play on Sunday and produce our best performance of 2020.
"Form goes out the window in a grand final, so it's up to us to get in the grind and keep turning up for one another.
"If we do that, I'm confident we can win and create club history - allowing us to celebrate for a number of days."
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