It’s a great day to be a Kingfisher as the U14 Division 1 boys brought home the grand final trophy after defeating the Helensvale Hornets, 24-16, on Saturday, September 7.
The Jimboomba Thunderdome was roaring with support as the final buzzer rang, and the boys were quick to get around each other.
Coach Geoff Burr was absolutely thrilled for the boys, and he felt a sigh of relief to come home with his first grand final win after seven attempts.
“Being truthfully honest, it was more relief than happiness. I just felt like this weight came off my shoulders as soon as the full-time hooter went,” he said.
“When you get to see the kids, where they’re all jumping and hugging each other, that’s when you start finding the happiness – I finally got one after seven attempts.”
The boys didn’t take their triumph lightly as it took determination and teamwork to take home this well-deserved win.
“A lesser team would have lost that game, but they just kept turning up for each other – they threw their bodies on the line; they just did everything to stop Helensvale,” Geoff said.
“Helensvale, they’re a good team, so to hold down a good team like that says a lot about the tenacity of these kids.”
Jimboomba tavern was stormed with Kingfisher pride as the team booked 80 seats to officially celebrate their win.
“We had a meal, and the parents had a couple of drinkies – the kids had a thousand jugs of red cordial,” Geoff said.
“Because our U16 Div 2 played in the grand finals, we went back over and watched them.”
Geoff is excited to prepare for next year’s team as he would like to stick with the same group of boys for a three-year plan.
“I’m already miles ahead thinking about next year and what we can do and how we can improve,” he said.
“I’ve stayed with teams that I’ve coached so you’re not just in and out of their lives for a year – you try and make significant influences on them.”
Geoff would like to thank Kingfishers President Scott Bannon, Child Development Mentor Jock Packness and the club for their support throughout the year.
Photos by Emily Livingston
