By Tom Primmer

An experience filled UQ side will run onto Suncorp Stadium for this Sunday’s Hospital Challenge Cup Grand Final as the club looks to secure their third premiership since 2017. 

The Students have featured in all six deciders the last six seasons, with head coach Mick Heenan guiding the side to two titles and another shot at glory this season.

The minor premiers have dropped just one game this year, although that was to their opponents this weekend, GPS, in the last regular season match of their campaign.

Skipper Pat Morrey, who will play his 100^th Premier Grade game this weekend and has featured in the last five finals, said his side his wary of a physical GPS outfit.

“We got bullied around our breakdown and physically, we really didn’t show up that day,” Morrey said of Uni’s last encounter with Jeeps.

 “We need to bring a bit of fire to the defensive line.  

“It’s awesome to be a part of another one, we’ve had a pretty good run.  

“It’d be nice to win one more, I’m currently two from five so it’d be nice to even that out a little bit.  

Astonishing depth has been the cornerstone of the UQ season, with both their Premier Grade and Reserve Grade sides topping the tables of their respective competition’s and securing spots in the Grand Final. 

The strength of the club means the Heavies can run out the competition’s most impressive bench rotation, with Uni regularly piling on points in the final half of games due to their strike of the pine. 

Former Queensland and Wallaby captain Stephen Moore is an incredible addition, bringing composure and calmness to the side, while the likes of TJ Siakisni, Will Roach, Mosiah Christian and Brad Kapa add considerable firepower outside of the starting XV.

There’s just as much strike in the Uni run-on team, with Mac Grealy and the Oates brothers – Kye and BJ – forming a formidable back three. 

Recent Melbourne Rebels recruit Lukas Ripley and veteran Con Foley start in the centres, while Scott Gale has been named at flyhalf as Brad Twidale battles to overcome a hamstring injury. 

Semi-final match winning hero Kalani Thomas will be out to continue his form, as will human wrecking ball Lona Halaholo and backrow partners Sam Wallis and Conor Mitchell. 

Morrey skippers the side from lock alongside Connor Vest, with Hamish Richardson, Alex Davies and another former Wallaby in James Hanson rounding out the side in the front row. 

Much of the team tasted defeat to Easts in last year’s Grand Final, and they’ll look to take the lessons and hurt from that day to spur them on this weekend.

“You can’t hinge on the past, but it definitely pointed out some areas we needed to work on,” Morrey said.

 “We got away with not having a strong enough set-piece during the season, and in the Grand Final, Easts identified the weakness and exploited us.  

 “It teaches us a few lessons this week about how clinical we have to be in all areas of our game if we want to win.”