In a rematch of last season’s decider, the Vikings belted Southern Cross Uni 102-0 on Saturday to progress to within one win of yet another grand final.

It now means they will have to repeat their heroics of 2017 when they knocked off the minor premiers to earn hosting rights for the season decider at Oxley Oval.

But standing in the way are Grafton – a side who have only lost one match all season, but that was to the Vikings three weeks ago.

As has been the case for the last three weeks, the Vikings again started fast.

But in a change to the previous two matches, they went on with the job after leading 38-0 at the break.

Coach Dave Henry was pleased not only with his team’s relentless attitude in attack, but the effort in defence was much improved on previous weeks.

“The danger in games like that (Saturday) is you start to play rubbish footy,” he said.

“Players start to look for shortcuts, look for an easy option and try to be cute rather than effective and then you don’t get anything out of it.

“It was really important for us to not let up.

“We need to be relentless and we’re good enough to play like that, it’s just sometimes we start to look for an easy option and that’s not healthy for your team.

“You need to be single-minded and totally committed to the plan.”

Henry was impressed with the performances of fullback Dan Willoughby, inside centre Sam Browning and captain Hamish McCormack who scored a hat-trick.

“Dan Willoughby was outstanding for us at fullback and may well be there for the rest of the year,” he said.

“Sam is just a really good footy player and Hamish scored three tries, but it’s the effort that’s done by others that allows that to happen.”

The Vikings coach admitted his team would gain “plenty of confidence” out of the rout and was also pleased his players got through unscathed.

He knows they will have to be even better on the road next weekend when there is a significant prize on the line.

“Grafton will be a different game of course,” Henry said.

“They’re minor premiers and have been the benchmark team all year so we’re going to have to be very good to beat them next week.

“Anything less than our best won’t be good enough.”