Keep your eyes out for details of the new ARU Junior Gold Cup Competition coming up for 2014.

[najmulislam2012seo]

I’m not going to talk about the Wallabies this week, it’s Grand Final week and we can look forward to a great day at WIN Stadium on Saturday. The crowds have been up for this years’ final series and the standard of football has been high. No one can argue that the two best teams have made it through to the big one. After what we saw in the Major Semi, I think we can expect to see another tough and uncompromising affair. It remains to be seen though just how much that monumental match at Kiama in the semi took out of both sides. Camden have had the week off and I’m sure they enjoyed the rest while the Avondale boys had to do it all again against University last week. The teams' preparations have been quite contrasting with the Rams only playing 2 games over the last 5 weekends because of consecutive byes at the end of the season. It remains to be seen what affect this has had on them, it may be good or it could be detrimental. On the other hand Avondale have had a torrid couple of weeks and are carrying some injuries. So how do you pick a winner? Camden have had the wood on the Wombats this year but that counts for nothing this week. I’d like to sit on the fence for this one but I don’t suppose I can. More later!

Who was the former Vikings President who took his whole phone number list out of town last week to celebrate his fiftieth birthday? Was he trying to hide the fact that he is getting old? I don’t want to MAR the celebrations, so happy birthday Tony from all your rugby friends!

Congratulations as well to all the referees and touchies who will be going around this weekend in the Grand Finals. We all enjoy giving the refs a hard time from the comfort of the sideline but these guys getting out there and having a go is much appreciated by the vast majority of rugby people. Well done to Richard McMullen on your appointment to the First Grade GF and a special mention to James Penman, who has had a great first year of refereeing first grade, culminating in being appointed to the second Grade Grand Final.

This is an exciting new initiative from the ARU which the Illawarra will be involved in for Under 15 and Under 17 players. Trial dates for the squads will be announced soon with training to continue throughout summer for the national tournament to be played in February March next year. There will be 24 teams competing from right across Australia in each age group which will present a great opportunity for local players that has never been available before.

How to I pick it? Do I really have to? Avondale have the Grand Final experience. Camden haven’t played a lot of football lately. Avondale have some injury worries. Camden have won all three encounters this year. Both coaches have been there done that. Oh well, finals experience counts for a lot on Grand Final day and I have always thought that continuity of matches is important at this stage of the year, so I guess I have to go for Avondale to win! Or do I?

All opinions offered in this column are the opinion of the author. They should not be considered to represent the views of the IDRU.