They come into the game as favourites to lift the Lee Bros Shield for the second year running.
OBM have their work cut out, but given their performance last weekend, they will be confident they have what it takes to win.
Conditions tomorrow are expected to be overcast but dry, which would favour Waikohu and their outside backs.
With fullback Tione Hubbard and wingers KC Wilson and Jesse Fleming, Waikohu are dangerous with ball in hand from anywhere in the park.
Waikohu keep the ball alive by stringing together offloads and forcing the defence on to the backfoot.
They have allowed only 136 points through their first nine games this season, dominating the competition and scoring an impressive 340 points.
With big forwards and speedy backs opposing them, OBM will have to be on top of their game to overcome Waikohu.
The forward packs for both teams are relatively even, but Waikohu have reserves such as prop Jarryd Broughton, who’s almost guaranteed to make an impact off the bench.
OBM will rely on their prop combinations of Lance Dickson, Dan Marsh and Jamie Barnett to provide a stable base for their attack.
Their forward pack will be bolstered by the reintroduction of lock Juston Allen, who returns after missing last weekend with a rib injury.
Allen is often an unseen workhorse around the paddock for OBM and will be a welcome addition to the squad in their final game of the season.
OBM’s defensive patterns will need to be ingrained in their play to slow down the Waikohu juggernaut.
OBM coach Clint Pirihi says his side will need to have even more hunger and intensity than they brought to last week’s game against YMP.
The team had three training sessions this week, and Pirihi expects a fully fit squad to take the field tomorrow.
“We came out of last week a bit battered and sore, but they’re all up for it and excited,” he said.
This week the team had been riding the energy of their performance last weekend.
“I’ve been telling the boys, ‘Don’t worry about Saturday, just enjoy this week’.”
Pirihi said their first-round win against Waikohu gave them “confidence and a bit of belief” that they had what it took to win, but he knew it would not be easy.
“They have X factor in the backs. We need to come off the line together and shut them down.
“We’re not going to change our game plan too much . . . we’re doing the same things that’ve worked for us.”
Waikohu player-coach Ra Broughton says he is nervous heading into the game, but he believes they have what it takes to become back-to-back champions.
“Our preparations and training have been good,” he said.
“All we can do now is worry about what we can do tomorrow.”
He said this week the team had been working on refining their defence, even though they kept Ngatapa tryless last weekend.
“We keep building on what’s been working for us. There’s always room to improve.”
Broughton identified OBM’s forwards and their mobility around the park as their biggest threat. Waikohu would work hard to restrict their impact on the game.
The club had worked through Senior One and was now challenging for back-to-back premier titles . . . it was something to strive for.
In Senior One rugby, it’s an all-Wairoa final as Wairoa Athletic take on Tapuae.
Athletic have been dominant all season. With just one loss and a draw on their record, they come into the final as favourites.
Athletic and Tapuae have been the two most consistent teams all season and, with no semifinals, are fitting finalists.
It will be an exciting curtain-raiser, with both teams expected to bring intensity and passion to the game as they battle for Wairoa rugby supremacy.
Wairoa Athletic v Tapuae, Rugby Park, 1pm. Referee Matt Smith, assistant referees Isaac Hughes and Mark Greene.
Waikohu v OBM, Rugby Park, 3pm. Referee Damien Macpherson, assistant referees Aaron Brown and Paul Brown.
