Given recent history, you might think a fifth grand finale meeting in the space of two seasons against Jebel Ali Dragons would fill Abu Dhabi Harlequins with trepidation.
Not so, if their player-coach Jeremy Manning is anything to go by. Instead of staying at home and fretting over a way to solve a 4-0 finals hoodoo against the Dragons, Manning is fulfilling a sevens commitment by playing in Hong Kong this weekend.
While he is in the Far East, the New Zealander will get a chance to reflect on a job well done so far in 2014. His side won the Gulf Top Six title at a canter, confirming a blemish-free campaign with a 10th successive win in Bahrain on Friday.
Now they have the chance to prove they are the top side in West Asia with a home final against familiar rivals at Zayed Sports City next Friday. They may have fallen at the final hurdle against the Dragons three times last season – as well as at the Dubai Rugby Sevens before Christmas – but they will be emboldened by the two league wins they had over their opponents in the Gulf Top Six.
“We had the disappointment of finishing third in the UAE league before Christmas, having had a lot of new guys coming in and a new structure,” said Billy Graham, the Quins captain. “It took us a while to find our feet and really get going. To take 10 from 10 from the Gulf Top Six, we are hugely happy with that and confident going into the final.” Graham said the Abu Dhabi side are far superior to the team that made all the running in the 2012/13 season, only to miss out in the showpiece fixtures.
“We have players who are more experienced, guys who have come in and strengthened positions that perhaps weren’t quite as strong,” he said. “In general, we are just a lot more cohesive as a team, and Luke Stevenson has been in fantastic kicking form.
“We are the favourites going into it, we know we are.
“We obviously respect the Dragons and know what they did to us in those three finals last year – but it is all about us. That is what Jeremy has installed into us this year, that we should not worry about the opposition.
“If we concentrate on our own jobs then the result can only go one way.”
pradley@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
