Michael Gunn and Jonah Placid help Easts score upset win over GPS in club rugby grand final

TEEN tyros Michael Gunn and Jonah Placid came of age in stellar fashion to sweep Easts to a grand final triumph over GPS.

TEEN tyros Michael Gunn and Jonah Placid started 2013 in Colts rugby yet came of age in stellar fashion yesterday to sweep Easts to their first Brisbane grand final triumph since 2008.

Their contributions went far beyond a try apiece in the pulsating 27-22 grand final upset of GPS in front of a rollicking Ballymore crowd of 8670.

Flanker Gunn is just 18 yet is a whirlwind of mature tackling, harrassing and ball-running energy. He made life hellish for the GPS inside backs in the calculated plan to restrict the supply of good ball to the side's Fijian dangermen out wide.

He is every bit a young Gunn and received the Tony Shaw Medal as player of the grand final. He put such venom into a huge tackle that jolted University's former Wallaby Rod Davies airborne at Bottomley Park earlier this year that the footage went viral when posted to the internet.

Yesterday, his pivotal moment arrived just after half-time when a smart quick-tap try to GPS halfback Nick Frisby closed the gap on Easts to 15-12.

In a blink, Gunn was crossing at the other end with some neat stepping from a standing start that left two GPS forwards on the turf groping.

Rockhampton product Placid, also 18, is one of those nimble fullbacks who spies chances where others do not.

The Australian Under-20 fullback's fine solo try of footwork and strength by three defenders gave Easts the 12-0 jump to control the decider.

His coup de grace was charging down Nick Zingari's conversion attempt of the Frisby try when an extra two points would have been gold.

"That fast start was so important and when you have young guys as good as Gunny and Jonah coming through the club can keeping building on this," Easts skipper Jack Mullins said.

"I've played at Easts since Under-7s. I've been at Tiger-land all my life...that's why this means so much."

Flyhalf stalwart Matt Brandon, lock Blake Enever and No.8 Jarrad Butler, off to ACT Brumbies next year, all excelled while the every-dangerous duo of Frisby and centre Samu Kerevi kept Jeeps in it to the death.

Brandon saved just a little energy for the famed rafter races in the roof at the club's Bottomley Park headquarters which was buzzing last night.

The Easts players were enveloped by the roaring Tiger Army which descended from XXXX Hill at full-time while club stalwarts Tim Stoddart, Ricky Nalatu, Scott Eisentrager, Jade Ingham, grey nomad Denis Owens and Reds coach Richard Graham also lapped it up.

"It's been a helluva ride this year. Having the Easts supporters banging the fence and all their noise really helped when we needed to dig in and defend on our line in the second half," Gunn enthused.

Frisby was downcast: "We gave them too big a head start but Easts won the important little contests through the game. It's just tough to let it slip away when you've come this far."

Full credit to the Queensland Rugby Union for the Back to Ballymore oomph to the grand final weekend with the Bundy Bar re-opened, open air grandstand boxes in use and the whole upgrade of services.

Easts 27 (T White, J Placid, J Butler, M Gunn tries; M Brandon 2 conv, pen goal) bt GPS 22 (P Kite, N Frisby, J Ellis, S Kerevi tries; N Zingari conv)