Bulls set to spark against Auckland | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Electrician Jonny Limmer is confident Canterbury will make the sparks fly and create history when they meet Auckland at Rugby League Park in the Bartercard Premiership final on Sunday.

In spite of all their success of the past decade, the Canterbury Bulls have had to play all their finals in Auckland.

Last year they lost there 18-38 in the final.

Getting a home final, thanks to a commitment by Sky Television before the semis, is a huge boost for the Bulls and local league.

“It sure is – it’s really been a long time coming,” said Canterbury skipper Limmer.

“I’ve played (for Canterbury) since 1999 and it’s always been up in Auckland, and sometimes on a substandard playing surface. The No.2 pitch at Ericsson two years ago was a sand pit.”

Sunday’s match could be the biggest occasion at the park for local fans since the Frank Endacott Canterbury team’s famous 1993 win over Auckland.

Canterbury learned in last year’s final that you had to make the most of your opportunities in a final, and really concentrate on defence, said Limmer.

This will be the fourth national final for Limmer, in his fourth season back in red and black after a season with Redcliffe Dolphins (Queensland) and two with UK club Workington.

Canterbury made hard work of beating Wellington by only three points in the semi-final.

Limmer thinks that was a legacy of their doubleheader the previous weekend when they beat Bay of Plenty and Waikato away – even though they worked only lightly last week.

“Possibly we were trying a little too hard against Wellington and pushing the balls,” he said.

“But also the two games on the Friday night and Sunday the previous weekend took a bit out of us. It was a big effort.

“Waikato did not put it together in their semi-final against Auckland, but they certainly did against us, and it was only 4-4 at halftime.”

Canterbury have already beaten Auckland once this season, but the 32-20 score left them with no doubts that they have to be on top of their game to do it again.

“In a final it tends to come down to one mistake or a pretty big play from somebody,” said Limmer.

Beating Auckland is historically the biggest challenge in New Zealand league, and they were always forward-dominated, said Limmer.

“They like to roll over the top of you, and they’ve usually got pretty classy backs as well.

“But I think we’ve got plenty of size in our team this year, so we can combat that really well.”

Canterbury could give back whatever Auckland gave, so “it’s looking to be an awesome game,” he said.

Coach Brent Stuart has been rewarded for the tremendous job he’s done with Canterbury with the appointment to coach the New Zealand residents team (to be named after Sunday’s final) that will play Samoa in Auckland on October 10.

It’s the first national coaching appointment for the 14-cap former Kiwi player.