Game-breaking moments and key players revealed in SCGRL grand final recaps
The 2023 Sunshine Coast rugby league premiers have been decided as captains highlight the major moments, key players and deciding factors. Read the match recaps.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The dust is beginning to settle after the winning Sunshine Coast senior rugby league sides have been crowned for 2023.
Five grand final matches were played at the Sunshine Coast Stadium on September 9 with a number of eye-catching match-ups.
Read below for all of the play-by-play action, key moments, game-breaking talking points and standout players.
Caboolture vs Kawana (Open Women’s)
It was always going to be a battle of the forwards with both sides coming into the match with the competition’s biggest and most powerful middles.
Kawana stamped their feet on the match early after a lovely pass from Brooke Kingdom ended up in the hands of Laura Barklimore who beat her opposition number Latisha Hoek to score on the left hand side.
Goalkicker Lauren Sims was unable to convert from the sideline but that was quickly forgotten as Caboolture struggled to exit out of their own half.
A penalty close to the line was enough of an invitation for Kawana halfback Savanaha Connors to slice through the defensive line and score to extend the lead after just 10 minutes.
Caboolture kept searching for a reply but were unable to break out of the half as Kawana turned up the heat once again close to the line and were successful through right centre Lauren Sims.
It continued to be one-way traffic in the first half as the minor premiers were unable to gain any true momentum and field position.
Both sides resumed the second half with the scores 14-0 and Caboolture started to string a few good phases together but were unable to capitalise on their promising field position.
Kawana remained in control of the match and the footy as they harassed the Caboolture red-zone for minutes on end.
That was the case until the 52 minute mark after Snakes forward Mariesha Orr linked up with Taylor Renshaw for their first points of the match.
With only a few minutes remaining that was the last of the points scored with the referee calling full time on the match 14-4.
Kawana captain and player of the match Brooke Kingdom said she was happy to come away victorious.
“We definitely had confidence going in, we worked really hard in training after our loss to Caboolture in the major semi final,” she said.
“We knew we had to execute our chances and we did so everyone was very happy to get the win after a long season.”
She said the early momentum was what her side needed.
“The feeling after the first 20 minutes was really good, the three tries had us on top of the world but we knew we couldn’t get complacent as there was plenty of time to go,” she said.
“At halftime I spoke about defence and that holding our own would win us the game so I was very pleased with how we defended in the second half.”
Kingdom said the result was an amazing turnaround following last year's grand final loss to Caloundra.
“The girls have come a long way, we worked really hard all season and everyone's very proud of what we’ve achieved,” she said.
“It’s such a great feeling and something we will never forget.”
Player points rating:
3. Brooke Kingdom (Kawana)
2. Rhemy Hinckesman (Kawana) and Natalie Orth (Kawana)
1. Amy Clarke (Caboolture)
Beerwah vs Kawana (A-Grade Mens)
The match started as it ended for Beerwah’s James Hill who was placed on report in the opening play of the match and arguably set the tone for what was about to unfold.
That opening penalty allowed Kawana to roll down into their opponent’s half but the opening set was nothing to fear for the minor premiers who got their hands on the footy shortly after and were able to open the scoring after two minutes through left centre, Sam Humphreys.
Winger Tom McClure was able to add the extra two points for Beerwah to take a 6-0 before a back and forth affair followed for the remainder of the first half.
Both sides were playing with grit and grand final toughness which eventually landed Kawana’s Tyson Rose in the sin bin after a late hit on Mathew Kidd.
There were a few moments of individual brilliance from both sides but with countless penalties, jersey grabs and push and shoves, neither side were able to build momentum or claim the upper hand.
With only a converted try separating the sides at halftime it wasn’t until the remaining 30 minutes that the game began to open up with both sides showing signs of some tired legs.
Kawana’s Jackson Russell was able to help his side find the scoreboard, taking the ball to the line really well before hitting Tyson Rose on the left hand side.
Winger Liam Taylor was unable to add the extra two from the sideline before Beerwah marched down the other end and went to the skies once more thanks to a lovely cross field kick from Mathew Kidd which landed in the hands of leaping winger Sam Fullerton.
McClure failed to extend his side’s lead which saw the men in blue knuckle down defensively for the remaining 15 minutes.
It was shaping up to be an ‘edge of the seat’ finish and it delivered as Kawana kept applying the pressure in their opponents half which saw Beerwah’s Rowan Jardine receive his final warning as he was sent to the sin bin for dangerous contact to the head.
Kawana opted against taking the two point penalty attempt as right winger James Sumpton was later denied close to the line.
Beerwah were able to get their hands on the ball once again and their roll through the middle of the field proved hard to stop for Kawana as Kale Sheraton was taken out late and high 10 metres out from the Beerwah try line.
Despite Matt Kidd pleading his case for a possible try the referee wasn’t having a bar of it as he sent Kawana’s Wyatt Reynolds to the sin bin.
Beerwah were successful in their plentily attempt as they took a 12-4 lead with only a few minutes remaining.
The Dolphins launched the ball into the opposition half and minutes later were awarded a penalty of their own as they took the two and narrowed the lead to six points.
That was also the last time that Beerwah touched the ball as they went on to defend their line for four sets in a row before James Hill was sent to the sin bin for a late shot on Kawana’s Jack Just.
Kawana’s left side attack rose to the occasion thanks to a pinpoint pass from Jai Smoothy helped Sam Reid cross the line.
Taylor stepped up for his third conversion attempt of the match but was unable to send the match into extra time.
After the referee called time on the match, with Beerwah winning 12-10, another scuffle unfolded between the two teams but ended with hand shakes and respect between the players.
Beerwah lock forward James Hill said he was proud of his side’s efforts.
“It was a tough and somewhat scrappy match but the boys worked for each other and there was never any doubt of us not turning up,” he said.
“It just caps off a really good season with a bunch of hard working blokes.”
He said given the fierce rivalry a few hairy moments were to be expected.
“That stuff just happens in footy, it was all good after the game once all those scuffles sorted themselves out,” he said.
“We’re both physical sides with plenty of big boys in the middle so those things are bound to happen, especially in a grand final when there’s so much passion and everything else involved.
“It was probably expected.”
Hill said the celebrations continued into Monday.
“There’s a few of us remaining today, just having a beer around a fire at the club,” he said.
“We’re just enjoying eachothers company because we won’t be going back to training anytime soon.
“It’s a really tight knit group and everyone just loves each other’s company so anytime we can spend around each other we will.”
Player points rating:
3. Daniel Kidd (Beerwah)
2. Mathew Kidd (Beerwah) and Sam Humphries (Beerwah)
1. Ryan Jeffery (Kawana)
Other results:
U19 Men’s - Kawana Dolphins defeated Caloundra Sharks 40-14
C Grade Cup Men - Palmwoods Devils defeated Caloundra Sharks 28-10
Reserve Grade Cup Men - Bribie Island Warrigals defeated Stanley River Wolves 30-28
‘Extra proud’: Lions rookie reflects on AFLW rise
A standout Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Lions Aussie rules talent has broken into the AFLW as she and a coaching legend reflect on her journey to the elite level. See what they had to say.
Emerging Reds Cup: The best moments, players from day 2
Emerging Reds Cup: Who stood out from the crowd in day 2 action? All is revealed here along with the top pictures, moments and players from the first two days of rugby action at Ballymore.