James Luff believes he’s finally right to help Gundagai to another premiership.
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The star Tigers hooker is out to make up for the last two grand final disappointments and feels it is his time to shine against Southcity on Saturday.
Going down in his first grand final attempt in 2011, Luff was one of the key ingredients to Gundagai’s drought breaking premiership in 2015.
He went on to win the Weissel Medal that season, but the Tigers’ last two grand final experiences haven’t gone the way the 25-year-old hoped.
He hopsitalised leading into the 2016 decider, but made a late call to play, and then missed last year due to a knee reconstruction.
This time around Luff is fit, firing and ready to make it count at Equex Centre.
“I was crook and lost seven kilos before that game (in 2016),” Luff said.
“I had to have surgery and wasn’t fully fit and that is why I’m looking forward to this weekend – I’m finally right.”
It was an 11th hour decision for Luff line up in what was to be the first of three grand final clashes between the two sides.
While admitting he wasn’t 100 per cent he doesn’t regret playing.
“I’m definitely glad I played, but we just let them get away with an easy victory there,” Luff said
“We were up by 14 points, I came on the field and I felt all I did was defend.
“They got their tail up in the middle section of the game and that is when I went on and I was pretty busted.
“I didn’t feel I made the impact I probably should have that day.”
It was hard watching on last year and now the Tigers have the challenge of trying to beat the Bulls for the first time this season.
Despite going in as underdogs, Luff wants to relish not having all the pressure on.
“Southcity are a quality side, have been there the last three years and every time would have gone in as favourites,” he said. “We’re probably the underdogs and I don’t mind that tag as I think we’ve been playing some pretty good football in the last couple of weeks.
“We’ve come under the radar, and people have written us off, as we were coming eighth in round six and now we’re in a grand final spot.”
Luff believes it has been a credit to James Smart and the coaching staff for turning the Tigers season around.
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