Five teams are jostling for the bottom three positions in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League (NRRRL) competition and there’s one round left to secure a top-six spot.
Ballina (28 points), Bilambil (28) and Northern United (26) are safely through to the finals.
But Tweed Coast (18), Byron Bay (17), Evans Head, Cudgen and Lower Clarence (all on 16 points) are in last-chance saloon.
Tweed Coast and Byron Bay both have negative for-and-against differentials, which isn’t the case for Evans Heads, Cudgen and Lower Clarence sitting immediately below them on the ladder.
So many scenarios could play out over this weekend’s final round.
But most eyes will be on Les Burger Field at Cabarita, where Tweed Coast (-30 differential) take on Cudgen (+111) in the local derby, with the history between these two sides indicating it could be yet another nail-biting match.
If Cudgen wins, Lower Clarence beat Casino and Evans Head triumph over Northern United, then Tweed Coast Raiders could find themselves out of the finals despite currently sitting in fourth spot.
Top-placed Ballina take on Byron Bay, who are clamouring for a fourth, fifth or sixth finals placing but some of the focus of this game will also be on a legend for both clubs in front rower Dylan Montgomery.
He played for NSW Country and won four premierships with Ballina before moving over to Byron Bay to help in the re-build of that team.
Former Dally M winner Todd Carney and Warriors signing for 2024, Jessie Soric (pictured at top), will be Byron’s halves combination once again with former NRL Cowboys and Sea Eagles forward Blake Leary another danger on the left edge.
Byron coach Mick Foster, who is a former assistant at Ballina, said it could be 39-year-old Montgomery’s last game if weekend results didn’t go Byron’s way.
“That’d be a real shame but it’s also kind of fitting if it all ends up on his old home ground,” Foster told nswrl.com.au
“He’s such a well-known character. He’s a Ballina junior, went to Manly to player Jersey Flegg and other grades in the Sea Eagles comp, had a year at Young Cherrypickers and then came back to Ballina in 2013.
“They won three premierships in a row with Dyl getting Man of the Match in the first one in 2013 and then a fourth in 2017.
“He’s like your Matt Scott-style of prop – runs hard and strong every time.”
