South Wagga out to defy odds to claim grand final victory

Terry Willis is back into the side for Chase Grintell but the Blues have decided against making anymore changes as they look for a way to down Wagga City and cap off their centenary celebrations with a premiership.

South Wagga are through to their fifth grand final in the last six years but have fallen short in every decider since their 2010 premiership.

Adding to their troubles is taking on a red-hot Cats outfit who scored a 145-run win in their semi-final and have the benefit of a draw being enough to claim their fourth premiership in seven years.

Captain Jeremy Rowe doesn't believe their poor grand final record counts for anything heading into the clash.

"It's a whole new game of cricket and it isn't affected by what has happened in the past," Rowe said.

"It is a point of interest, and we will have the finger pointed at us in regards to not being able to get the job done in grand finals until we right that.

"That's what we are intending to do this weekend."

However the grand final equation is much more of a hurdle.

South Wagga need to bowl out Wagga City to take the win, and the Cats have the ability to bat for 97 overs, leaving South Wagga just 60 to chase, if they bat first.

It's the benefit of finishing higher on the ladder.

Despite this Rowe remains confident they can come away with the big prize.

"With Wagga City being the highest ranked side, and with such a strong batting line up, we acknowledge the task ahead is a very difficult one," he said.

"But winning a grand final is a really difficult thing to do no matter the circumstances.

"We go in with real confidence we can get the job done, go in with absolute excitement of what lies ahead and there is absolutely no feeling within our dressing shed that we can't get the job done.

"Do we have to play our best cricket for 160 overs? My word we do and anything less than that isn't going to get us the chocolates.

"It is all about executing on the big stage and we're ready to have a crack at it."

Willis hasn't played in their last three matches due to an Achilles tendon issue.

However Rowe believes he will play an important role as the Blues look to down the Cats for the second time in five meetings this season.

"Tex (Willis) is definitely good to go," Rowe said.

"He's had more of an uphill battle to get over than what he or we expected when he first did it against the Colts.

"We thought he'd miss a week or two and then be right for a full finals campaign but obviously we are right at the death knock now and we've been able to overcome it.

"It's a credit to him for pushing to get it right and we definitely see him asset going into this weekend.

"His experience is one thing but his form was really good towards the back end of the season.

"He took a four-wicket haul, a couple of two and batting with him in that Colts game when he made 40 odd he looked really comfortable.

"We see his bowling as being really important, particularly if you bowl first in a game.

"He tends to be able to draw shots out of batsmen that some guys can't."

A victory could be the perfect way to celebrate 100 years of South Wagga.

The Blues held a reunion weekend last month but a long-awaited title would really cap it off.

"The centenary year has been a very special one for us, and we have celebrated that during the season, but the centenary year lasts for the whole year," Rowe said.

"For us to be able to compete in a grand final is really important, and a great thing, but to potentially win one would be a very special point in our history.

"Fingers crossed we can get it done."

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