Intrust Super Cup Round 1: Around the grounds with Chris Garry

A TWEED Heads Seagulls’ favourite son made a successful comeback to rugby league, scoring a crucial try in their victory over Easts Tigers. Find out the other highlights from Round 1.

Queensland Cup - Match played at Tweeds home ground Tweed Heads v Easts Tigers . Tweed Heads player No3 James Wood Easts Tigers player No5 Jeremy Hawkins . Picture Mike Batterham

SHANNON Walker made a successful comeback to rugby league, scoring a crucial try in Tweed Heads victory over Easts Tigers.

Walker scored in the second half as the Seagulls defeated the Tigers 28-24 at Piggabeen Oval just two weeks after his train and trial deal at the Gold Coast ended.

Walker’s second half try was one of several highlights on a dramatic day in the Intrust Super Cup.

The Burleigh Bears defeated the Wynnum Manly Seagulls 44-22 at Wynnum in an upset with the Bears cutting loose in the second half.

The game was locked up at 10-10 at half time but the Bears showed they could deliver on their promise this season.

Wynnum’s Tim Natusch is wrapped up by the Burleigh Bears. Picture: John Gass

The most dramatic game however was the Sunshine Coast’s come from behind victory over the Northern Pride.

The Falcons trailed for most of the game on their home ground but after a barnstorming try by regular Melbourne Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona the Falcons levelled at 24-all.

Then new recruit Ryley Jacks stepped up, nailing a field goal in the dying minutes for the Falcons to win 25-24.

The Falcons will be major threat this season after years of being permanent fixtures at the bottom of the table.

New coach Craig Ingebrigtsen has already installed at least some of the hunger that made his former club Easts Tigers consistent grand finalists.

In the other games yesterday, the Hunters thumped the Magpies at Davies Park in a rare win outside of Papua New Guinea.

The Hunters, who have lost several star players, won 36-18 against a Magpies team featuring several Broncos to show they are contenders again this season.

The Magpies fielded six Broncos players including damaging forwards Caleb Timu and Herman Ese’ese but the Hunters are a fulltime professional team who live together in a Port Moresby hotel.

Next week features what could be and early contender for game of the season on Sunday when the Ipswich Jets take on the Townsville Blackhawks in a rematch of last year’s grand final.