RLMD A-grade grand final: Mackay Magpies expel demons to taste premiership glory

They were the best team all season and Magpies put paid to a dominant campaign with a super grand final showing. Go inside the contest.

It was a great day for Magpies. Picture: Rugby League Mackay and District Facebook

“You’re useless number two. Do something number two.”

The Brothers faithful weren’t afraid to give plenty of stick in a heated RLMD A-grade grand final.

It was fitting that primary target Maika Tudravu – who copped more than his fair share of insults – had the last laugh, breaking away down the right edge in the game’s dying moments to seal premiership glory for his side.

Mackay Magpies would prevail 26-6 over Mackay Brothers in a tense grand final affair at BB Print Stadium.

But the final score failed to do the contest justice.

Matt Skaife of Mackay Brothers in action. Picture: Bernadette Vella

And Tudravu’s try was simply some extra shine on a showing underpinned by an extraordinarily gritty defensive display.

Brothers would hound and hound the Magpies defensive line with the ferocity of a famished wolf pack, especially in the second half, but to no avail.

They attacked right, then central, then left, then right, then central, then right again.

And nothing. The stonewall couldn’t be breached.

Even when a silky chain of clean hands saw Thomas Irelandes inches from the corner and a certainty to score, the Magpies defence found a way, a last-ditch effort slamming the winger into touch.

It didn’t matter how many times Brothers infiltrated the Magpies in-goal either, getting footy to turf proved to be another challenge entirely.

Matt Skaife, who dazzled for Brothers at fullback, was the only man to achieve such a feat, his try handing Brothers a 4-6 lead in the 19th minute in what would be their only points of the day.

Brothers controlled the territory for much of the contest, a number of promising line-breaks from deep in Magpies’ own half would be the saving grace of its defence, allowing for several minutes to catch their breath before the next assault on their tryline ensued.

Magpies coach Scott Thorburn was thrilled with his side’s defensive showing

Zane Wallace in action for Magpies. Picture: Supplied

“We held them off our line – I don’t know how many times we knocked them back – it was just a huge effort from everyone,” Thorburn said.

“You’ve gotta give credit to Brothers, they just kept on going and going all night, they didn’t give up, it was good.

“Our forwards just tackled their butts off, they just worked so hard … the boys just hung in there, I knew they would.

“I was down to two interchanges with half an hour of the game left so it was a big effort from the boys.”

Magpies weren’t without their moments of brilliance in attack either, notching 26 points of their own..

Hooker Zane Wallace was superb, scoring the game’s opening try and masterminding Andrew Borg’s on the hour-mark with a line-break followed by a creative and pinpoint dribble on the run.

Borg’s try extended the margin to 20-6.

The slippery runs and threatening chips – including one that set up Kahlani Mooney’s try – of halfback Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu saw him awarded player of the match.

It was successful day for Magpies, with the under-20s also tasting premiership success. Picture: Mitch Bourke

As expected in a Magpies-Brothers grand final - a match not seen since the very day of the infamous roundhouse shooting in 1997 - tensions were high on and off the field.

As the reality that Brothers 15-year premiership drought was set to continue sunk in, an all-in melee erupted in the game’s dying minutes.

It culminated in a player from each side being sent to the bin, including lead Magpies antagonist Matthew Vessey.

Minutes later, the tensions that had been bubbling away between Magpies and Brothers fans on the hill all night came to a head.

The siren would sound soon after, much to the pleasure of Magpies players and fans alike.

You could hear the burden of last season’s grand final defeat escape in their screams of joy, as a near-perfect season that entailed just one defeat culminated in sweet premiership success.

It was a historic day for the Magpies, who’s under-20s also prevailed over Brothers 26-18 earlier in the day.

Wests would claim the reserves premiership, downing Carltons 30-24.