By Riley O’Leary for the Griffith Journal

24 August 2026

The Griffith Dragons are brimming with confidence ahead of the 2026 URLQ finals series, after one of the best regular season campaigns in the club’s history.

The Dragons finalised their preparations at training on Monday night, which will be their last session before finals.

Across eight matches played, the Dragons won six, drew one and lost only one (plus a UniSc forfeit – binging their total wins to seven). They scored an average of over 35 points per match and conceded an average of just 15.

The finals now works as a straight knockout tournament, with the first placed Griffith Dragons taking on the fourth placed QUT Trouts in the first semi-final.

The UniSC Spartans will take on the UQ Hounds in the other semi-final, with the winner of each match progressing to the final at Davies Park next Thursday.

Griffith have played against QUT three times in this URLQ season, defeating them in all three:

• 28-20 when they met in Bulimba in Round 2
• 40-4 when they met in Bulimba in Round 6; and
• 38-22 at Mt Gravatt in Round 8.

Despite this, the Dragons are not taking any chances going into the sudden death clash this Wednesday.

“The job isn’t done, they’re a wounded beast,” Lewis said.

“Every dog has its day.

“So we can’t go in there half-baked, thinking we’ve got the job done.

“In the last game, they give us a run for our money.

“I think that gave us a bit of a kick up the arse.

“That gave us a bit of a warning that, you know what, as much as how well we think we are, any day in a game of rugby, someone could come up on that day and just play better than you.”

The Dragons have used 36 players throughout the season thus far, with Lewis wanting to give everyone in the squad a run before deciding on his best team.

“Obviously try to give all the guys a bit of a run out because that gives me a kind of an idea of where they are,” Lewis said.

“Some of them have really overachieved my expectation for them, which is great, but it makes my job a lot, lot harder.

“Unfortunately, there’s only 19 to be picked for the semis and the semis will really be possibly the final team as well.

“Some people are going to miss out, which is unfortunate, which is a blessing and a curse for a coach.”

However, Lewis has seen enough and is settled on his best 19, which includes the return of co-captain Ben Standring.

Prop forward Izzy Fulton is also expected to return, having made a quick recovery from an injury sustained in Round 7 against UniSC.

The match takes place this Wednesday, 26 August, at the Nathan Fields. Kick-off is at 7:30pm.

The Griffith community is strongly encouraged to attend, with this being a must-win fixture for the Dragons. This will also be their last match at home for 2026.