The Griffith Dragons are preparing well as they gear up for the 2026 URLQ Grand Final this Thursday night.

After a thumping 32-12 victory last Wednesday against the QUT Trouts, the minor premiers booked their place in the final against UniSC Spartans.

The Spartans didn’t have it quite as easy as the Dragons, but in the end were able to get the better of the UQ Hounds in a 22-12 win in their semi-final last week.

The Dragons were impressive last week; they never really let QUT in the fixture and will be hoping to do the same against UniSC this Thursday.

Griffith have played UniSC twice this year, winning one and losing one:

A 52-12 win at home in Round 5; and

A 24-16 loss away in Round 7.

The two teams were also due to play in Round 4, but the Spartans forfeit the match, allocating a 40-0 win to the Dragons.

Speaking at the team’s penultimate training session on Monday night, coach Rob Lewis said his main focus was on his side’s game management come the big moments.

“Game management – it’s all about that now.

“We know what we’re doing in attack, we know what we’re doing in defence.

“Our standing in the league proves that.

“Now we’ve got to kind of find those extra couple of percentages that tie it in our favour, because USC will be doing the same.

“They’ll be looking at us, asking how they beat us.”

Reflecting on last week’s win, Lewis was proud of his team’s ability to overcome their opponents despite a fast start.

“They had nothing to lose, it was us that had to prove it,” he said.  

“The guys, again, weathered the storm and then found our feet and went forward.”

Looking ahead to Thursday night, Lewis knows that UniSC will have a point to prove.

He believes his team needs to play in a similar style to last week: weather the opposing storm and then play Dragons footy to take home the title.

“We just need to take the ascendancy,” he said.

“Put them off their game and play our game.

“We know what their weaknesses are and what their strengths are.

“They’re very dominant in the middle, a bit like QUT last week.

“And then as long as we can weather that and then start playing our game, we’ll come out victors.”

Lewis confirmed that the Dragons will roll out the “exact same” 19 as last week.

The Grand Final will be played at Davies Park in West End, with kick off scheduled for 7pm on Thursday night.

For most of the players in the Dragons squad, this will be their first Grand Final at the club.

“Everyone’s in high spirits,” coach Lewis said.

“Today it’s focused on now, winding it in; we’ve got four days till the big day.”

The Dragons will have a skills session on Wednesday night to finalise their preparation for the big dance.

The entire Griffith community is strongly encouraged to attend as the Dragons chase history on Thursday night.