There aren’t many players out there as passionate about Eastern Suburbs as first grade utility back Archie King.

Still just 24, King is already in his fifth season of first grade but he remembers a few years ago when things weren’t going so well at Woollahra.

“There’s a big good group of us that came through colts and into grade within a few years of one another.

“There weren’t a lot of older guys at the club then, so a lot of us ended up playing first grade maybe a little sooner then we should have and it was pretty tough.”

Easts will play first grade finals footy for the first time since 2013 on Saturday when they take on minor premiers Sydney Uni at Camperdown and the Bays and Easts Wallaroos junior says it’s been several years in the making.

“There’s been a big transition this year I think. We’ve always had a really strong culture at the club and that’s why people want to play here but I think in the past, we probably focussed a little too much on the social side of things,” he said.

“This year, we’ve just built on what we’ve been working on over the past few seasons and I think having a player group that has been together for a while has really helped.

“Alex King, our club captain has also been fantastic. He’s worked really hard to bring the whole club together and I think we’re starting to see that on the field across all the grades.”

Under new coach Pauli Taumoepeau, King and the Beasties won four of their first five matches in 2018 and momentum quickly built throughout the Eastern Suburbs.

“Our forward pack were really strong all year. Connal McInerney, Ryan McCauley and Rowan Perry are consistently tough and hard and that sets the platform for the rest of the side. I think our halves, Jack Grant and Mack Mason make really good decisions and the rest of us just sort of play off the back of that.”

Easts remained in the hunt through the middle part of the season and secured their breakthrough finals berth with a famous victory over rivals Randwick at home in round 16.

But a week later, with their Super Rugby stars back in Beasties’ jerseys, Easts were beaten comprehensively by Norths in their final game of the regular season

“We got thumped by Norths, it was really disappointing. We just didn’t turn up and I think we thought it was just going to happen for us, but we were quickly reminded just how good this competition is,” King said.

The 51-5 loss saw Easts enter the playoffs as the sixth seed and set up a must win qualifying final against Sydney Uni on Saturday.

The Students have been the benchmark side all season and will start short priced favourites this weekend, however King said Easts’ are far from ready to throw in the towel.

“In our eyes, we haven’t achieved anything yet and to be honest, I think we probably should have finished further up the ladder considering the side and coaching we’ve got,” he said.

“We want to do well by the club because our lower grades are looking strong so we really want to contribute and be there at the end of the year.”

As minor premiers, Sydney Uni are the only side that can’t be eliminated from the competition this weekend but King said he didn’t think that was necessarily a good thing for Easts.

“Every team has pressure on them at this time of year but they’ve got a second chance, so if anything, the pressure is probably on us to win. We’ve just got to front up and play the way we know we can play.

“It’d just be exciting for the boys and the club (to beat Uni). If we do win though, we won’t be getting too carried away because the end goal is to do some damage in the big games and hopefully we get a chance to do that.”