50 SPORT SUNDAY OCTOBER 6 2019 Emotional Jared is weakest link THE slick United don’t have many weaknesses but Canberra legend believes enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is one player that the Raiders can exploit tonight. As much as Lazarus rates Waerea-Hargreaves, he also camp is feels the New Zealander, who has been charged by the ju- diciary 19 times, is vulnerable under pressure. “Jared plays with a lot of emo- tion,” said Lazarus. “We’ve seen how many times trick for he has been at the judiciary. “A lot of those times he gets in trouble is when emotion takes over.” Raiders From schoolgirls to biggest stage MICHAEL CARAYANNIS fronted up just MILLIE Boyle thought play- two days after his wedding. He ing Oz-Tag alongside Kezie IT was the three-day torture brushed a honeymoon to try to Apps as a teenager would be camp that built Canberra’s re- turn around a horrid last sea- the height of her sistance. son that resulted in his axing career – she was wrong. Told time after time he had from the top grade. In a fairytale sporting story a side that lacked mental fer- Papalii said the choice was for two Bega High School ocity, Canberra coach Ricky easy. friends, Boyle will today go Stuart organised a camp to test “Me and my missus have head-to-head with Apps at his players’ psychological been together forever so we ANZ Stadium in the NRL strength – and bring him closer can go on a honeymoon when- Women’s grand final when the to a premiership. ever,” Papalii said. “The army Broncos take on the Dragons. Army camps aren’t new – camp was the worst idea to at- Broncos prop Boyle spoke they are a regular part of most tend, but I’m glad I went. about her friendship with Apps clubs’ pre-season training to “It was one of the toughest as she prepares for today. give players a physical edge camps I’ve ever done. “We both went to the same coming into the new season. “We had a total lack of sleep high school,’’ Boyle said. “Now But this three-day camp – and I love my 10-hour sleep. to be playing against each wasn’t about getting fitter or It’s all worth it now.” other in a grand final is some- stronger. It was purely about The players were largely thing we will never forget.” mental resilience. based at the Australian De- It happened in November fence Force Academy in Dun- last year when most teams troon on the outskirts of JT says Cronk were on an off-season break. Canberra, but the camp took in Having listened to his play- different parts of the capital. one of the best ers during their post-season re- The instructors used sleep view last year, Stuart knew his deprivation as a technique for Tonight’s grand final could be Aidan Sezer’s last game in green Picture: KYM SMITH IF team needed a harder edge. He bonding. was to give the next generation thought there was nothing Players slept outside and of halves one player to mimic, wrong with their skill or foot- were woken at all hours to do Sezer hopes to go with a bang it would be . ball ability – but they needed a fitness drills as sprinklers It’s perhaps the ultimate dramatic mental shift. sprayed water into their faces. EAMONN TIERNAN the end of next season but is “I’ll be putting the boots compliment from the NRL’s “We were told that we They did a beep test at 5am, free to start talking to rival on next year, if it’s not here it finest player of this century. weren’t mentally tough and we flipped endless numbers of C A N B E R R A h a l f b a c k clubs from November 1 and will be somewhere.” But it’s rightly deserved had no resilience,” Stuart said. tyres and held bricks above Aidan Sezer wants to leave several teams are looking at Sezer emphasised he given tonight against Canberra “I believed we had more their heads as they completed the Raiders a premiership a playmaker. The 28-year- wasn’t looking past the will mark the Sydney Roosters than others thought, but the fitness drills. winner. old said the only thing he daunting task of taking halfback’s ninth grand final camp wasn’t a typical army- Skipper said Sezer was instrumental in knew for sure was that he’d down the Sydney Roosters and possibly his sixth win. style of camp. A lot of prep- Papalii’s presence helped set guiding Canberra to their be lacing up the boots some- at ANZ Stadium. “Just his work ethic, how aration went into it in terms of the tone for the season. first grand final in 25 years where next season, and that “If it’s my last game or disciplined he is with his prep- finding out who was going to “We were all a bit dusty still but he’s expected to leave in his focus was on the grand first game for the club, it aration. How he gets the best be a team player. It was a good after his wedding and he the off-season due to the final. “I’m still contracted doesn’t really matter. I’m out of his body,” Thurston said. start but not everyone bought came,” Croker said. signing of England interna- next year so the ball is in my playing in a grand final and “He knows how to turn the in. But everyone has bought in “That showed the type of tional George Williams. court, we’ll play it by ear, it’s that’s the only thing I’m fo- screws. He will go down as one now.” player he wanted to be.” Sezer is contracted until rugby league,” Sezer said. cusing on,” Sezer said. of the greats.” Page is determined Burleigh Bears will leave ANZ Stadium as champions

BURLEIGH Bears skipper much of his 2015 season. Page Burleigh, where he now wants 54-12 trouncing by the Illawar- barrassed down in Sydney so Luke Page is out to make developed a close bond with a to show the country what he’s ra Cutters. we don’t want that repeat at all. amends for their “embarrass- number of Canberra’s current made of on the biggest stage of Page said the club had been “We want to show everyone ing” 54-12 National State crop of first-graders, including the rugby league calendar. “really, really serious” in prep- what type of club Burleigh are Championship drubbing in flyer . It has been four years since aration for their clash with the and really put in a good per- 2016 when he runs on to ANZ The pair had played togeth- a Queensland Intrust Super Newtown Jets this afternoon. formance. We want to bring Stadium this afternoon. er at Souths Logan Magpies in Cup team has claimed the na- “It overshadowed our that trophy to Queensland.” Today has extra meaning 2014 before both travelling to tional trophy, when the Ips- premiership in 2016, getting The Jets are bolstered by an for the 28-year-old, who will the nation’s capital for a shot at wich Jets defeated the Knights beaten by that much,” Page array of NRL talent – including share the main stage with his the NRL. 26-12 in 2015. said. Cronulla players Jayson Buku- former teammates from Can- Page eventually moved to The following year, Bur- “We have spoken about it. ya, Scott Sorensen and Blayke Bears player Luke Page berra – the club where he spent the Dragons and then back to leigh were humiliated in a “We pretty much got em- Brailey. NTNE01Z01MA - V1