Dubbo’s 19-year-old Brock Dunn will play in his first Toyota Cup grand final this Sunday, when his side the Canberra Raiders take on the Brisbane Broncos at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
The former CYMS junior has spent the past two seasons with the Raiders and he said Sunday’s match would be his biggest yet, and with his mum Caroline and father Gerard there watching he hoped he could perform well and help his team come away with the win.
Dunn will be starting off the bench this weekend, but after sustaining a serious knock to his teeth last week against St George, the hooker is lucky to be playing at all.
“I wasn’t on for very long at all and I just copped a high shot,” Dunn said.
“The knock pushed my two front teeth in but I have been to see the team doctor and dentist and I have been given the all clear for this weekend.”
Dunn’s central west team-mate Justin Carney will also return for this weekend’s grand final, after sustaining a fractured eye-socket in round 26.
Disappointment however for Forbes second rower Joel Thompson who will miss out on the match after he too fractured his eye socket during Canberra’s match against St George last weekend - his first as captain.
Thompson, a 2006 Australian Schoolboy, and Carney were both named in the inaugural Toyota Cup team of the year this season.
Dunn acknowledged that Thompson’s presence on the field would be sorely missed on Sunday but remained upbeat about his side’s chances to take the premiership.
“I spoke to Joel this week and he didn’t say much, he is very disappointed he can’t play,” Dunn said.
Thompson’s former Forbes Magpies team-mate Zac Merritt will also be in action for the Raiders, named in the second row.
This season Dunn believes he has grown as a player and after signing with St George earlier this season for 2009 he hopes further doors will open for him in the future.
“I signed with St George simply for the opportunity to further my career,” Dunn said.
“I really want to go all the way.”
Last month Dunn’s Brother Blake won his Illawarra Carlton League grand final with Thirroul Butchers and with Brock’s grand final this weekend the Dunn family is hoping they can get two from two.
“I am very proud of both of them, I know how much hard work they have put in,” their father Gerard said.
“I am pretty excited about watching Brock this weekend and hopefully his side can come away with a win.”
Brock will be living with Blake next year when he starts his season with St George and he believes that will help make his transition a lot easier.
This Sunday’s Toyota Cup grand final will kick off at 2pm.
To progress to the grand final the Raiders defeated St George 18-14 at the weekend while the Broncos escaped with a down to the wire 28-26 win over the New Zealand Warriors.
The Raiders finished the regular season as minor premiers with 40 competition points while the Broncos finished second, ahead on for and against of three other sides (Warriors, Penrith and Parramatta) on 35.
Head-to-head the Raiders won both the earlier clashes between the two sides, 48-8 at Canberra Stadium in round 14 and 28-24 at Suncorp in round 21.
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