IT has been almost 30 years since Comboyne last claimed back-to-back Hastings League titles.
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On that occasion, current Tigers captain-coach Dean Hurrell’s father Greg was in charge in 1988 and 1989.
Dean will have a chance to join his old man in Comboyne rugby league folklore with a win over Kendall at Lank Bain Sports Complex on Saturday.
The Hurrell’s are a well-known family name in Comboyne community circles.
“Both my parents are from Comboyne, the grandparents from both sides of the family are from there, and all my uncles are too,” Hurrell said.
“The whole lot of us all played for Comboyne and went to Comboyne Primary School.
“There’s heaps of family history with the town and with dad winning comps as well so I’m trying to do the same thing as what he did in a way.
“If we are to win, it’s going to be pretty special to do it alongside my brother.”
At the start of the season, the Tigers captain was unsure if he would ever get another chance to play alongside older brother Todd.
“The big thing about this season is that my brother was going to pull the pin because last year he won the comp with South Newcastle on the same weekend I won with Comboyne,” he said.
When the Tigers captain moved from the Hunter back to Hastings he felt his opportunity to play alongside his brother had gone.
“When I left Newcastle it was about the stage we were going to play with each other because then I moved back up here,” he said.
“That was our last throw of the dice to get a game together so I’m just so grateful he went out of his way to travel up here on the weekend’s he has this year.
“I’d never played with him and he’s come up here for this year so it’s been awesome.”
Standing in between the Hurrell’s quest to replicate his father’s success are the Kendall Blues.
They’ve been the best side all season and will be well-led by captain Beau Kettle.
The sides have clashed in three matches this season with the Blues holding a 2-1 advantage and if those matches are any indication, it promises to be a heartstopping season finale.
Comboyne claimed first blood with a 28-18 victory in Kendall earlier in the season before the Blues hit back with a 16-12 win and then an 18-16 victory in the major semi-final.
“It shows that we’ve been the best two teams all season,” Kettle said.
The Blues skipper said the heartbreak of last year’s 29-26 defeat to the Tigers had been discussed, but it hadn’t been a sole focus.
“A couple of the older fellas have brought it up, but that’s been about it, we don’t focus on what’s happened too much,” he said.
After more than 200 first grade games, Glenn Banton is expected to hang up the boots which provides an added source of motivation.
“He’s been around the traps for a while and coached a lot of the younger boys in their junior days,” Kettle said.
“It would be good to send him out a winner.”
The decider kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.