By Michael Atkinson. Photo – QRU Media

It’s hard to believe, I know, but this Sunday is the first week of finals and marks just a fortnight of club footy left this year.

Our four finals sides are locked in – have been since round 17 – and we know who will face who in the major and minor semi-finals.

To wet the appetite for Sunday’s semis, we’re going to release a little preview of each side over the course of the week.

A slow, tantalising build-up to a HUGE double header at Ballymore.

Time for team number two, the Gallopers. Can they go one better than last year and finally end that 22 year premiership drought?

Ladder position: Second

Number of wins: 11

Last five games: WLWWW

The Gallopers have clearly been the second best team in the competition this year – highlighted by their double victories over fellow finalists Souths and Easts. The recent thumping at the hands of Uni will burn them though and they will use it as motivation for revenge come Sunday.

But they can’t get too wrapped up in the past; that includes the lonely, dust-collecting, Hospitals Cup-sized spot in the trophy cabinet at Yoku Road.

The Gallopers must put all of that behind them and simply focus on how they got to where they are now and what they do well. They appear to be a better side in 2018 than the one that lost to UQ in the 2017 Grand Final.

They have a similar forward pack, but have added the Smith Twins (JP and Ruan) and talented openside flanker, Tom Kibble.

But the backline is where they have made real improvement. Last year it was solid, could get the job done and maybe a little more, but they probably lacked a bit of X Factor. This year, they picked up a few guys who just have an ability to conjure something out of nothing. Outside centre Jaye Thompson has been described by hard-nosed forward, Daniel Gorman, as the most skilful player he’s ever seen.

That’s some wrap from a bloke who has played over 200 Premier Grade games across 10 years at the top level.

Key Moment:

It was a trick lineout play that resulted in a try to young flanker, Matt Gicquel, and ultimately handed the Gallopers victory over Souths back in round 7.

Until that point Jeeps had been doing well but hadn’t faced any of the sides who would eventually be in our final four and had just come off a disappointing home loss to Wests.

Souths, on the other hand, were soaring – undefeated. Yet a dogged, determined, willing-to-get-dirty, Jeeps side sucked them into an arm wrestle and came out victorious. I reckon it was this win that galvanised the Gallopers and gave them believe they could give the comp a good shake.

Key Player:

Michael Richards.

For the life of me I don’t know why this bloke hasn’t been picked up in an NRC squad. He is a real old school backrower. Can hit a breakdown, can hit in defence, can link with the backs and is probably the best support player in the competition.

He and his family live and breathe the GPS Old Boys Rugby Club, so chasing a premiership probably means more to this guy than almost anyone else at Yoku Road… almost.

Given the captaincy this year in the absence of injured forward, Daniel Gorman, the man they call “Pencil” has taken his game to another level with the added responsibility.

Look for him to have a big impact in the finals.