By TOM CULLEN

The stage is set for the Western Plains rugby grand finals this weekend in Warren.

Three cracking games await with the Flamin’ Gulars taking on the Walgett Ewes in the Touch 7s grand final.

It’ll be a battle of the rams as Coonamble Rams take on the Walgett Rams in the second grade grand final.

And finally, the showdown of all showdowns between the hosts Warren Pumas and the Walgett Rams which will sure to be a blockbuster.

Touch 7s

ABOVE: Gulargambone will be hoping to go one better than last season and get a maiden grand final win under their belts against rivals Walgett.

The Touch 7s competition has improved out of sight since its inception in 2021.

Competition is fierce and these two teams have been ultra-competitive this year.

Gular boast youth and fitness as their biggest weapons and have a great kicking game.

Walgett however has experience on their side and winning grand finals for that matter bagging the last three.

It’s rare to see a team dominate so much in a competition with Walgett undefeated in the regular season with a bonus point in every game.

They averaged nine tries per game and conceded less than two tries. With this record they will be extremely hard to beat. Gular will be hoping to catch them off guard early and rattle them, but it will be a monumental task.

Second Grade

ABOVE: Despite a lacklustre season in first grade Coonamble have the chance to take home some silverware when they take on Walgett on Saturday

The second grade competition has been reborn with three teams competing this season. Not since 2019 has there been a second-grade competition so positive signs for Western Plains rugby.

This game will be a feature on its own as the Coonamble Rams average age will be almost double that of the Walgett side. A large contingent of Coonamble players have decided to put the boots on for one last season to relive some glory from the golden era of 2009-2013 where they won five premierships in a row. If last week’s preliminary final was anything to go by these oldies still have it and will prove a handful for the well drilled and trained Walgett players.

The Coonamble players have chosen a more relaxed approach with only two training runs under their belt for the year as opposed to the conventional approach of Walgett. The Walgett boys will fancy themselves with superior fitness and structure but the grand final experience of the old guard of Coonamble may give them an advantage.

First Grade

ABOVE: After 'that' semi-final a fortnight ago, the 1st-grade grand final between Warren and Walgett is one not to be missed.

Rugby pundits believed the first-grade major semi-final between Walgett and Warren two weeks ago was the best game of rugby they’ve seen since the 2019 extra time grand final between Coonamble and Warren.

The teams were so evenly matched during that game it makes it very hard to pick a favourite for this Saturday. 

Sure, Warren has the home ground advantage but for them that’s added pressure not having won a grand final there since 1988. Walgett haven’t won an away grand final since 2007 so there is going to be a milestone on the day regardless.

When these teams have played each other in the regular season both have won convincingly at home.

Warren has played bridesmaids to Walgett too many times over the past three seasons so their hunger for a win is far more obvious. If they keep the game structured and dominate Walgett’s scrum again that’ll pose a huge advantage.

Walgett however will like an open running game with the best player in the zone Dillon Walford the key to their attack. Whatever the result it will make for a great encounter to round out the 2023 season.