All the major talking points following round six of Rugby League Gold Coast’s A-Grade competition

WATCH: A hefty suspension looms for one second-rower, while a new recruit - fresh off the plane from France - and an 18-year-old on debut both managed doubles. Discover all the major RLGC talking points now.

Six rounds into the season and the Rugby League Gold Coast competition is as even as ever, with just two points separating the top five sides.

Currumbin claimed a rare and meaningful win over Southport, who are set to lose a second-rower to a hefty suspension.

While a new recruit - fresh off the plane from France - and an 18-year-old on debut, both managed doubles.

Discover all the major talking points below.

Tugun’s bogey side? 

The Seahawks are evenly placed this season and sit third on the ladder with a 3-3 record. Of their three losses, two have come against Runaway Bay, and the Seagulls have put more than 50 points on Tugun in both of those games to win 52-30 a fortnight ago and 52-22 in round six.

So, are Runaway Bay Tugun’s bogey side? Maybe. But the patch of dominance the Seagulls are enjoying may also be circumstantial, given they boast a destructive forward pack while a Tugun side impacted by injury is missing several of its key forwards. It’s interesting to note the pair of wins over Tugun are Runaway Bay’s only wins for the season.

Tugun’s injury woes don’t appear set to alleviate anytime soon either, with front-rower Blake Davies sent to hospital with busted ribs in a further blow.

Tweed duo’s immediate impact

Despite the heavy loss and injury trouble facing Tugun, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, with a pair of 18-year-olds fresh off a Mal Meninga Cup-winning campaign with Tweed excelling.

Jake Lateo donned the number one jersey at fullback in the absence of Kyle Williams and was solid, while Junior Filimaua - who had been playing second row in his underage football - lined up in the centres and was really physical, crossing for two tries.

Jake Lateo donning the fullback jersey for Palm Beach Currumbin during the Phil Hall Cup final between Palm Beach Currumbin and St Patrick's College at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Picture: Matthew Elkerton

Back-to-back losses for Southport

Coach Greg Bird wasn’t fazed by his side’s downturn in form, noting both a number of key absences and that there was plenty of time remaining in the season. He estimated that at least five key players were missing from his line-up.

“It makes a massive difference, especially in games like that where you need your calm heads on the field,” Bird said. There was a silver-lining to the absences however, with three 18-year-olds afforded the opportunity to take to the field.

Bird lamented the final 20 or so minutes of Southport’s game in particular, where his side dropped four balls cold in vulnerable field positions. Penalties were also costly for Southport, with Bird adding that his side must “work better with the ref”.

Suspension looming

Southport second-rower Jake Fitzgerald is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after his late hit on a Currumbin kicker.

It’s understood Fitzgerald is looking at a four-week suspension, with the option to downgrade it to three with an early plea.

“It was a dumb decision, it was an energy decision, it wasn’t a laziness decision, it was just dumb,” said coach Greg Bird.

The incident, which occurred late in the game, saw Fitzgerald placed in the sin bin for the game’s remainder.

Frame-by-frame of Southport second-rower Jake Fitzgerald’s late shot on a Currumbin kicker. Pictures: BarTV Sports.

Why Currumbin’s win was extra special

Matt Geyer is into his fourth season at the helm of Currumbin, and Sunday’s game was the first time he’s ever coached a senior victory over Southport.

But that wasn’t why the triumph was so special to him. It was also his first time claiming the Ben Hamlet Cup, a memorial trophy to honour the late Ben Hamlet that’s contested between Southport and Currumbin.

“He was good friends with my son personally and I’m good friends with his family, I coached his younger brother who’s my other son’s age and taught him at school, we’ve got a real affinity with his family and friends,” Geyer said.

“To not have won the Ben Hamlet Cup for four years, it was really nice to honour the family in that way.”

He also noted that the match was the most physical contest he’d ever seen in his time as an RLGC coach.

Currumbin coach Matt Geyer (right). Pic: Adam Head.

Burleigh the defensive kings

Only twice has a team been held scoreless this season. Currumbin failed to register a point in round three, and Helensvale were held scoreless on the weekend. The opponent on both occasions? Burleigh.

The result was also a significant turnaround for the Bears given they lost to the Hornets 28-22 just a fortnight ago in the round one catch-up game. The Bears completion rate was the most notable difference this time around after they were plagued by dropped balls the last time the sides met.

Foreign import’s immediate impact

Welcome to Rugby League Gold Coast Takitau Mapapalangi.

The unfamiliar face bobbed up for two tries within the opening 21 minutes against Helensvale. It was his first outing for the Bears, having made the trek to Australia upon the completion of his season in France. Mapapalangi’s strength is a hallmark of his game, with Bears coach Michael Robertson describing him as a “big unit”.

Mapapalangi had been playing for Lezignan in Elite One, the top division of France rugby league. He was also crowned NRL Victoria’s male representative player of the year in 2022.