The head coaches of South Wales Jets and Aberavon Fighting Irish are looking forward to Sunday’s JES Group Rugby League Conference Grand Final at The Lextan Gnoll this Sunday (kick-off 4pm).

This match is a culmination of five games at the ground, with junior finals starting at 10am.

Former Wales internationals Ben Flower and Lloyd White have been coaching the Jets for the last couple of seasons and are now hoping to lead their side to back to back Grand Final glory.

Head coach Flower said: “We’ve been preparing for this all season. We’ve done well to get this far and faced some tough competition and this is one more game we need to get through.

“I think the performance we put on last Saturday against Cynon Valley Cavaliers in the semi-final was unreal and it just shows what the boys are capable of doing. We won the game 42-10 and they were a tough team so putting on a score like that, I know the boys are going to be ready to face Aberavon in the final on Sunday.”

Both Flower and White have played at The Lextan Gnoll in the past, for both club and country. Both starred in the first ever rugby league game at the ground back in 2010 where South Wales Scorpions beat Workington Town, and also played for Wales there in a Rugby League World Cup match against the Cook Islands.

“It’s a great place to play at,” Flower adds. “It’s an old-fashioned stadium where the crowd get on top of you. It creates a great atmosphere, I’ve some good memories of playing there and it’s got a good history behind it. I’m looking forward to the day and I’m sure it’ll be a good one at that.”

White kicked the winning points in the 22-20 win over Workington in 2010 and also scored a try in the World Cup match. He also has Grand Final memories himself, being awarded player of the match in the 2007 edition.

He remembers: “It’s pretty much one of the grounds I started my professional career at. When I was with Crusaders in 2010-11, I was going down to The Gnoll and playing for South Wales Scorpions on dual registration. I’ve a lot of good memories there, plus playing for Wales and scoring in a World Cup match there.

“I’m buzzing for Sunday. The competition has been a little bit different since I was at Newport Titans but it’s been really enjoyable. We’ve a great bunch of boys here at the Jets and I’m looking forward to them putting on a good performance on Sunday.”

Dean Scully, the Aberavon coach, was captain of the side 21 years ago in the first ever WRL Grand Final, so he has history with this competition. He also has memories of playing at The Lextan Gnoll in both codes of rugby.

He said: “It’s one of those grounds that is full of history and has a rich rugby tradition. It will be my first time there as a coach and l am looking forward to locking horns with Lloyd and Ben who both came through the Crusaders pathway when I was there. They both did well in their rugby careers and have got their team playing well this year, but it’s the final and anything can happen. We will go to The Gnoll without any fear and hopefully both teams will put on a show for a big crowd.”

Sunday’s encounter is a repeat match-up of last year’s final where the Jets won 27-20. In that game, Aberavon were never ahead but pushed their opponents right up until the end. Scully believes this final could be a similar type of contest.

“It’s a one off final and anything could happen. As I have previously said the standard of the league has improved this year, but I feel the correct two teams are in the final. What a game this is going to be – the Jets, unbeaten for two years against the Aberavon Fighting Irish, a team that never says die and will battle for each other until the final whistle.

“We will see a completely different game to that of a few weeks back. That said, my boys went to Penallta with a depleted squad that were unable to field a full bench. This week we have a few boys back but are also missing some that picked up knocks the weekend. We also have some key players out that have had some season-ending injuries. We take confidence going into the weekend after beating the Bulls and getting back to winning ways.

“We have prepared well and the lads are really and up for this game. It should be a cracking afternoon and what better way to finish the season lifting the trophy.”

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