Brisbane State High coach Steve Kefu said his squad is embracing the underdog card ahead of Saturday afternoon’s premiership deciding GPS clash against defending premiers and perennial champions Nudgee.

State High and Nudgee are both undefeated heading into the final round and the winner will claim this year’s outright GPS premiership.

In the past four decades, State High has won seven GPS premierships, but has only held the title outright twice, in 2016 and 2009.

“At the start of the year, the boys set themselves the goal to win the competition and no one else gave them a chance,” Kefu told Rugby News.

“We’ve been getting a different Old Boy to come along to each of our captain’s runs this season to share his story and that’s been really positive for the group.

“We had Wally Lewis last week but it hasn’t just been sports guys either.

“We had Paul Brady come in recently to talk about how similar traits from rugby have helped him in the business world. He talked about never giving up and embracing being an underdog.

“The boys love hearing those stories and everyone that has come in has spoken really positively about how that State High spirit that has helped them throughout their lives.”

State High were far from their best in a 24-17 win over Gregory Terrace – a side coached by another State High Old Boy in Adrian Thompson – last weekend.

Despite that, the coach seems confident his side still has their best rugby ahead of them.

“If we turn up and defend well, then we know we have it in us. At times, we have been our own worst enemy this season and I still don’t think we’ve played to our potential just yet.

“If we’re going to do that, then why not do it in the final game of the season against the defending premiers.”

Most of the spotlight this season has been shone on star No.8 Roman Suilepa but while Kefu was full of praise for Nudgee’s quality and consistency, he said he was confident his boys could match Nudgee from 1-15.

“Roman takes plenty of the limelight away from the other guys and while they’ve probably gone a little unnoticed, it’s also taken the pressure off them as well.

“We know how talented our boys are, but Nudgee are deservedly favourites. At the start of the year, the paper ranked Nudgee first and us seventh.

“There’s no pressure on us, we’ve done incredibly well to get to this spot but the boys obviously want to close it out.”

While a win would be a great reward for the current group, Kefu said it would also be important for Australian rugby.

“The Wallabies aren’t going too badly but the sport as a whole isn’t where it should be, particularly in public schools.

“This would send a message to those at the top and show them how much talent is floating about in public schools around the country.

“We’ve had a good year so far but we want our year 12 boys that are leaving to have a memorable final game for the school and then go on with their rugby from there, then we want more kids pushing through trying to be like them.”