NO ROOM FOR SENTIMENT AS PANTHERS CHASE GRAND FINAL GLORY
After his team parlayed a late-season form spike into another grand final opportunity, Hornby Panthers coach Jed Lawrie is determined that his and fellow club legend James Baxendale’s impending departure won’t be a distraction ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Halswell Hornets at Ngā Puna Wai.
Lawrie quickly doused any notion of sentimentality being a motivating factor following the Panthers’ stirring semi-final victory over Linwood Keas to snare the first berth for CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day.
“I was clear that once we made the final straight away, that with me stepping aside and ‘Baxy’ moving to Australia there was to be no talk of doing it for us,” Lawrie asserts.
“It starts individually with their own performance, [I’m] dampening down any talk like that and getting them driven and focused.”
The prospects of the Panthers’ eighth grand final appearance in nine years was looking a little shaky at the halfway point of the regular season, winning just two and drawing one of their first seven games.
Another convincing loss to Riccarton prior to the Matariki weekend bye cast doubt over Hornby’s place in the playoffs. But the Panthers stormed home with 14-point home wins over Linwood and Halswell, then a hard-fought 20-10 victory in Greymouth in the final round to clinch second spot – momentum they carried through to a momentous 18-12 major semi win at Linwood Park.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries through the year, we’ve had close to 40 players play premiers,” Lawrie explains.
“But credit to the boys that have come up, they’ve played some starring roles.
“We’re thankful we’ve got a strong ‘Bs’ team coming through and once we got everyone back and available, we started that run. The potential was there, it was just about getting those combinations over time.
“There’s a few headaches and a few tough conversations to be had this week, but I have no doubt the 17 that get selected will do a good job.”
Particularly given defending premier Linwood’s bid for a 10th straight decider was foiled by Halswell, grand final experience shapes as key advantage for the Panthers.
Corey Lawrie and Baxendale, who co-captains the side with Devaun Thompson, are both lining up in an unprecedented 13th premiership decider – Lawrie played his first grand final in 2001, Baxendale in 2005.
“We’ve got a good core of guys who have played in a few finals, like ‘Pup’ (Corey Lawrie) and ‘Baxy’, and a guy like Zinzaan [Martin] who had a long time overseas and has come back and given to his club in the last three years,” coach Lawrie says.
“A lot of experience there and obviously with Sincere Harraway back as well.”
‘A 20-year-old Harraway was the Mel Cooke Trophy winner as best on ground when the Panthers won the 2021 grand final, producing several flashes of brilliance from fullback in a tense 22-16 victory that temporarily halted the Keas’ record run of five straight titles.
After a couple of seasons away from the club, the livewire’s return looms as a grand final trump card.
“Sincere’s got that ability to turn a game in a split-second, but a lot of that comes back to his tenacity and the person he is – he’s willing to throw himself ball in hand at the biggest person out there,” Lawrie says.
“When a game’s on the line, that’s the sort of character he is. It’s been enjoyable working with him again.”
HARRAWAY-INSPIRED HORNBY END LINWOOD’S REIGN IN CLASSIC GRAND FINAL
While the Hornets have their own mental hurdles to overcome preparing for the club’s first grand final in a decade, the Panthers’ gut-wrenching defeats to the Keas in the biggest game of the year for the past two seasons will inevitably be in the back of their minds.
A last-second, long-range Penetito Ilalio try stole the 2022 decider from Hornby, while Tevin Arona’s missed penalty goal in the dying stages of last year’s grand final was the defining moment of a 16-14 loss.
Lawrie isn’t shying away from those harsh memories, instead using them as an educational tool. And the Panthers won’t be relaxing one bit despite fact it’s a different team on the other side of the Ngā Puna Wai pitch.
“You reflect and learn from those finals … and obviously it doesn’t matter who you play, it’s 13 on 13, you’ve got to present your best individual performance.
“[Halswell will] be keen and they’ve got a lot of threats with Ken Tofilau and Josh Aileone, and Antonio [Lemalu] is a major part of their forward pack.”
Lawrie was a keen observer on the sidelines of last weekend’s preliminary final at Linwood Park – and he was impressed with what his team’s upcoming opponents produced in a 26-18 win.
Meanwhile, he’s leaning into the electric atmosphere and sense of occasion the 12th grand final between the neighbouring clubs – and the first since 2013 – will inevitably create.
“What I saw on Saturday is they’re a really gritty team, and a gritty team always takes it to the 80th minute. We’ve got to make sure we’re at our best to compete for 80 minutes, first and foremost.
“It’s exciting for the rugby league community having a Hornby-Halswell [grand] final, the rivalry I’m sure will bring out a lot of old boys and add a lot of excitement to the game.
“I really enjoyed last year’s semi [between Hornby and Halswell], the crowd that turned up, so I’m expecting it to be similar.
“It creates a lot of excitement, two teams that have a massive supporter base, and Ngā Puna Wai’s going to be chocker.”
Lawrie, who took the reins of Hornby’s premiers side in 2016 and finished up a stint as SENZ Canterbury Bulls coach at the end of last season, is soaking up his last grand final week with his beloved club.
Of course, we’ve heard multiple times in previous years that he would be handing over the clipboard, only to stay on – but he’s adamant that there will be no change of heart this time around.
“For me, it’s been a ride the last 14 years coaching. But I’m looking forward to spending a bit more time with the kids – I’ve got one who’s 11 and loves league, and my 14-year-old is a mad downhill mountain biker, so it’s about having quality time with them.
“I’m definitely looking forward to enjoying Sunday and being the last one I’m pretty excited for it.”
