Both teams have known the heartache, and now they want the glory when the Tasman Tanning Senior final is decided at Cooks Gardens on Saturday.

The undefeated McCarthy’s Transport Ruapehu take on the back-to-back finalists Forest 360 Marist Knights

While coaches Chris Winter and Sean Ferguson understandably wanted to keep the game-plans close to their chests, both teams are looking to make a statement as the final Senior game for 2025 is likely to have Premier implications for 2026.

In order to expand what has been a very competitive and exciting but small five-team Premier competition, it is likely the leading Senior teams will join top grade next year in a new format, but only one can lift the silverware before they go.

“For us, we’ll see how we go this year, see what we have next year and we’ll go from there,” said Winter.

“It will be an awesome final I think.”

Tellingly, Ruapehu have won clutch games this year when it really mattered, including over the Knights (15-11) in May, as well as semifinalists McCrea Scanning Counties (22-21) and twice against 50th anniversary team Direct Connect Marist Celtic (24-19 and 18-13).

They had three players in the Northern subunion team in forwards Harry Rowe and Ezekiel Anderson, along with quality finisher Cullen Cross, who scored twice in the semifinal with Celtic including the match-winner

“A last minute try and a good try. There was sort of only half a metre in it,” said Winter.

“It’s not how we want to win, but in those games it’s how we have won.”

“We’ve had to adapt with how the weather’s been, but whatever the weather be is what it is – we’ve trained for everything.”

Another outside back in Tahatika Te Riaki scored two tries in the win over Knights, while fullback Chrissy Winter delivered with the boot in the games with the Marist teams.

The side is captained by Kahl Elers-Green, the former Steelform Whanganui halfback who played such a strong game in Ruapehu’s last trip to the big one – a tough 44-25 loss to Celtic in 2022 that only got away from Ruapehu inside the last six minutes.

Knights have more recent painful memories – their 12-10 loss to Utiku Old Boys in last year’s final to spoil an undefeated season.

“Just pleased to back into the final, and hopefully a bit wiser this time,” said Ferguson.

“They’re more than capable, so long as we make the right decisions and don’t let the occasion get the best of us.”

The Knights were pleased to come through their bruising 14-0 semifinal win over Counties with no injuries, in a game where the second-half was scoreless, as they expect a similar fundamentally strong performance from Ruapehu.

“Obviously we’re not taking anything for granted, they got the best of us last time, and we know what’s coming for us,” said Ferguson.

His attack-orientated team has scored 474 points this season, which is 230 more than Ruapehu.

But for all the outstanding finishing ability of outside backs Kuliasi Ligaitamana, Epeli Delasau and goal-kicker Joey Devine, expect the engine room to have to shoulder the workload against the northern men.

Skipper and No8 Brandon Burberry, flanker Isaac Jordan and especially prop Raponi Tofa want to erase the pain of last year’s defeat.

 “They really want it, the hunger’s really there so we’re really excited for it,” said Ferguson.

Kickoff for the grand final at Cooks Gardens on Saturday is 12.30pm.
 

By Jared Smith