Playing in a Group 10 premier league grand final is a thrill for any football player but being able to play along-side your brother is a whole different ball game.
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Betts brothers Jake and Jed are hoping for their first grand final victory together when Bathurst Panthers play in the grand final against the Mudgee Dragons at Carrington Park this Sunday.
The pair played together in an under 18s grand final in Lithgow but they were unable to win on that occasion.
They were unlucky last year when Panthers won the 2018 premiership, with Jake being sidelined due to a broken leg he sustained during a match about midway through the season.
Jake Betts felt winning from the sideline just wasn't the same.
"It was good seeing the boys win but it would be unreal to actually play in a grand final-winning side," he said.
An easy 20-point victory against minor premiers Orange Hawks in the major semi-final has given Betts this chance, with Panthers receiving an automatic pass into the grand final on the back of the result.
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Betts said that Panthers are confident heading into the final having won every game against Mudgee this season.
"Anything can happen in big games but we are reasonably confident," he said.
"We just have to make sure that we turn up switched on and ready to go because Mudgee is a quality side."
With the majority of the Panthers team having played together as juniors, brother Jed Betts believes this has played a key role in the team's success.
"We're all close mates and we all get along so I think that everyone just goes that extra mile to make sure we don't let each other down," he said.
"I think that is one of the reasons we've had such a good year so far and had the success we did last year."
Both brothers have played football since they were young so playing and winning a grand final together would be a special memory for the Betts boys.
"Not too many people have the opportunity to play footy with their brother," Jed Betts said.
"Just having the chance to possibly win a first-grade premiership with Jake is pretty special."
Although Jake is sitting on three try scores this season and Jed on two, the boys claim there is no sibling competition between them.
"I'm not sure if you would say having Jake there makes it more competitive but you definitely want to do a good job having people on the team who you're so close with," Jed Betts said.
Undefeated at Carrington Park this season, Panthers will be looking for back-to-back premiership wins this Sunday.
