FOR yet another consecutive year the Phantoms are going into a preliminary final and this time around they will need to draw on all of their power to get over the line.
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In their way is Wagga Ag College, a side who has beaten Leeton twice within the last month and many would label the Phantoms as the underdogs heading into the final.
The match will be no easy task between the two sides.
The game will be played on neutral turf at Tumut, which Phantoms club president Tim Allen was hopeful would work in Leeton’s favour.
“It’s a level playing field having it at Tumut,” he said.
“In saying that, last weekend we knocked Tumut out of the finals, so I’m sure some of the home ground there will be cheering the Aggies on.
“It’s going to be a cracking match.”
It’s been another big year for the Phantoms, having started the season on a roll before losing several players through injury and work commitments in the latter half.
Last weekend key player Joe Kafoa-Pene was a late withdrawal from the first grade side after suffering a work-related injury and Allen labelled him as being “50/50” ahead of Saturday’s clash.
It would be a disappointing way for Kafoa-Pene to finish the year after having to sit out Leeton’s drought-breaking premiership win through suspension in 2017.
Allen believes the game will be won in the backs, but said everyone would need to be switched on.
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“I don’t think the results of the last couple of games (against Aggies) will be on the boys minds … it’s a different game now,” he said.
“They lost last weekend to Waratahs so it will be interesting to see how they bounce back.
“Everyone knows they have a job to do, so as long as they go out and give 110% that’s all you can ask.”
Phantoms supporters have been urged to make the trek to Tumut to cheer the team over the line and into the grand final.
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THE Dianas were knocked out of last weekend’s finals race after going down 29-10 to Wagga Waratahs.
In a rebuild season, co-coach Tim Allen couldn’t have been more proud of the girls and was hopeful many of them would return again next year.
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