Live stream: Palm Beach Currumbin v Kirwan State High, Phil Hall Cup grand final
Palm Beach Currumbin have withstood a one-man onslaught from Bears fullback Logan Brookes to clinch the NRL Schoolboys Queensland state title. Watch the REPLAY.
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An inspired Logan Brookes performance wasn’t enough for Kirwan as Palm Beach Currumbin stood tall with a 26-14 win and the 2024 state title.
Early attacking pressure was enough for PBC to open the scoring as fullback Ray Puru cruised over for the first try of the match.
WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
As Kirwan got their hands on the footy for the first time they were able to roll into their attacking half before a lovely cut out ball from captain Logan Brookes allowed Heath Bethel to score in the corner.
The tries continued to come in the opening 25 minutes as PBC centre Josh Donovan hit back off the back of bomb kick that was uncontested before diving on the ball just centimetres from the dead ball line.
Some lovely Kirwan hands and a stretching pick-up from centre Taakoi Benioni allowed him to finish off a great team try as the Bear shortened the gap to just two points.
After some repeated penalties and with less than 10 minutes to go in the opening half, Kirwan’s quick attack continued to dismantle PBC’s edge defence as fullback Brookes stepped and weaved his way over the try line.
Check the full week-long NRL Schools League finals LIVE STREAM schedule from around the country below.
A lovely hit, spin and dive from PBC lock forward and match captain Isaac Harrison was the boost his side needed as they went into the halftime break leading 18-14.
As the second half began Brookes continued to look dangerous with the ball in hand and as a link-up option before switching roles to defence and saving two four point chances.
The scoring slowed down in the second half as 15 minutes flew by with either team taking control of the game before Bryce Fincham was sent to the sin bin for a late hit.
Minutes later PBC made the most of their extra man as a lovely long ball from Puru hit right winger Sunny Kama On the chest before he spun and fought his way to the line.
With two minutes on the clock PBC showed their class with another lovely team try that was finished off by Jack Finigan to cement their hands on the 2024 title.
As time expired, PBC progressed to the National Championship match with a 28-14 victory.
PBC head coach Tim Maccan said he was very proud of his side.
“We’ve worked really hard the last 12 odd weeks to get to this game today so even though it was a bit of an ugly game we did enough to get the job done,” he said.
“It just felt like we kept letting them back into the game by making errors or giving out penalties or slowing the game down.
“Once we kept the ball in play and kept playing fast footy we were able to get on top of them in the back.
“Really happy to have now secured a home national final so we’ll reset now but definitely aiming to make the most of that.”
Absent PBC captain Zane Harrison, who was sidelined due to HIA protocols, said he was eager to get back out on the field in two weeks time.
“I was way more nervous watching than actually being out there, mainly because I can’t do to much,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there in the national game in a few weeks, I think we deserve to be there and I’m really proud of all the boys.”
PREVIEW
Palm Beach Currumbin coach Tim Maccan has put his faith in Year 11 playmaker Marley McLaren to lead the Gold Coast nursery to a state title.
McLaren has been pitchforked into the lead playmaker role for their Phil Hall Cup showdown against North Queensland rivals Kirwan High following an injury to skipper and Queensland representative Zane Harrison.
The Queensland state decider, which acts as a semi-final for the NRL National Schoolboys Cup, will be streamed LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 12pm, Thursday at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
While the loss of Harrison, who faces time on the sidelines due to concussion protocols, can’t be understatsed for the Red Army, Maccan has put his faith in enigmatic McLaren who will be partnered by Year 11 teammate Taj Lateo.
McLaren, who was only recently locked down by NRL club St George-Illawarra, has played a brilliant foil to Harrison across the season.
“Marley has been very keen to improve his game and his role in the team,” Maccan said.
While Zane is in full control, (Marley’s) job has been to not only support Zane, but also make sure he controls his edge and keeps things simple.”
Palm Beach Currumbin’s coaching staff believe the side is peaking at the right time of the season and have built toward the state final off the back of hard work in the middle of the park.
It’s the tough stuff typified by lock forward and twin brother to injured halfback Zane, Isaac Harrison.
“The team has built through the season after we had some of our best players out in patches during the season,’’ Harrison said.
“Coming into the finals we knew we were coming from third and we were not the favourites.
“We knew we needed to build each week and we have become a better side each week working as a unit now.
“We will keep building into the final (against Kirwan) and then hopefully we build for another match (the National Final).’’
In Queensland’s north, the Kirwan Bears believe they have followed a similar trajectory toward the state final.
Kirwan Bears coach Todd Wilson said a focus on building on each performance had allowed his team to pick up steam at the right end of the season.
“We need to make sure we’re improving in the areas where we need to, and that we’re getting better from week to week,” Wilson said.
Kirwan captain Logan Brookes will come into the state final with plenty of momentum after he scored a hat-trick in the local A Grade semi-finals at the weekend.
Wilson said he was naturally nervous ahead of the game but wouldn’t stand in the way of a great opportunity for his 17-year-old fullback.
“There’s always a risk involved when they’re playing club footy, but at the same time playing with men in the A-Grade comp is also a massive benefit to him and then also to our team,” Wilson said.
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