The opening 15 minutes in tomorrow's under-18s grand final between Forbes and CYMS will be vital to the outcome of the match, according to Magpies coach Cameron Greenhalgh.
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The minor premiership winning Magpies have had a relaxed two weeks since defeating the Fishies in the major semi-final and after racing out to a 14-6 half-time lead in that match, Greenhalgh wants his side to start well again tomorrow.
"It could go to the wire so I'd like us to get a bit of a break on them and get some breathing space between us and them sooner in the match rather than later," he said.
"I think it will be a forward battle for the first 10 minutes and then after the grand final nerves settle a bit we'll see some good finals football probably played at a hectic pace," he said.
"The boys said after the game at Forbes it was the fastest match they'd played all season and I think the final will be the same, if not faster."
The battle between the two forward packs is something Greenhalgh anticipates to be a key area with the likes of Traie Merritt and Bailey Hartwig leading the charge for his side.
"CYMS have got a bit of a size advantage on us but we've got a good mix of older and younger kids, three kids in the forwards will play 18s again next year and I just can't fault their toughness," he said.
"We're going to have to defend really well too, especially close to our own line because they're very dangerous there.
"I suppose it's the old cliche, whoever defends the best and makes the least mistakes will go a long way to winning it."