Liam Gill sparks Sunnybank to comeback win over GPS and spot in Premier Rugby grand final

LIAM Gill ignited an astonishing 28-0 second-half blitz at Ballymore yet is still no certainty of starting for Sunnybank in the Premier Rugby grand final.

Jake McIntyre of Sunnybank celebrates scoring the winning try with team mates during the Brisbane Club Rugby Union Preliminary Final played between GPS and Sunnybank. Pic Darren England.

REDS ace Liam Gill ignited an astonishing 28-0 second-half blitz at Ballymore yet is still no certainty of starting for Sunnybank in Sunday’s Premier Rugby grand final.

Downcast GPS halfback Nick Frisby could only mutter the word “freak” as Gill’s prowess dissolved his side’s seemingly secure 24-5 half-time lead.

The preliminary final was transformed by Gill’s dynamic 40 minutes after half-time with his turnover knack, his harassing and his inspiration.

Sunnybank’s 33-24 triumph was iced when flyhalf Jake McIntyre scooted over in the final moments but the damage was done in the three-try strike just after the break.

Flanker Gill had two excellent touches in Shane Tasi’s bullocking try. Lock Ben Adams scooted over for his second try and prop Haydn Hirsimaki marked a top game with his own.

“Gilly made a big difference and we have every confidence we can win this grand final,” Sunnybank coach Rod Seib said of facing University.

“Our Reds players are all great club men and understand the decision to be made is whether he starts.”

Regular flanker Chazz Mahina started on Sunday because Gill was first game back from winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in sevens in Glasgow.

It would be madness not to start Gill beside Reds backrow cohort Jake Schatz to capitalise on Uni being rocked by the possible loss of key backrower Curtis Browning with infected boils.

Uni have also lost Reds back Jamie-Jerry Taulagi to a stress fracture of the foot which will sideline him for more than a month.

Frisby dominated Sunday’s first half, sliding over for a try on the blindside and exploiting that same side to feed winger Chris Kuridrani’s second try.

“We are the only team to beat Uni this season and we can definitely do it again,” Adams said.

Centre Henry Taefu and halfback Sean O’Connor were both stretchered off with concussion and seem certain to be scratched from Sunnybank’s grand final plans.

“We can’t give Uni the ball. The game is all about momentum swings and like we showed in this prelim final once you get one it’s very hard to turn around,’ Adams said.

Preliminary Final: Sunnybank 33 (B Adams 2, J McIntyre, L Gill, S Tasi tries; H Taefu 3 cons, J McIntyre con) d GPS 24 (C Kuridrani 2, M Kotze, N Frisby tries; S Johnson 2 cons)

Originally published as Liam Gill sparks Sunnybank to comeback win over GPS and spot in Premier Rugby grand final