‘Freakish’ Fuller’s hat-trick leads top five players from Burleigh, Helensvale
Read the recap, hear from the coach and see all the best photos from a cracking RLGC Round 2 clash between the Bears and Hornets.
SHALLIN Fuller has stamped himself as one of the premiere players on the Gold Coast with a stunning hat-trick in Burleigh’s 44-10 win over Helensvale at Pizzey Park on Sunday.
Fuller’s two tries to halftime sent the Bears into the break leading 12-6, after an entertaining back-and-forth between the two sides.
But when the Burleigh five-eight completed his hat-trick six minutes into the second-half, the flood gates opened for the hosts.
Taine Tuaupiki, Reece McKenzie-O’Brien and Ryan Wescombe all crossed in short-order to blow the game wide open, as the Hornets – in their maiden A-Grade match – started to tire.
Helensvale had a glimmer of hope when Dru Hetet crossed with 15 minutes to play, but late tries to Allan Lockwood and Latrelle Howe sealed the deal for the hosts.
It wasn’t all good news for the Bears however, with skipper Reece Summer going down with a left ankle injury just before halftime and not returning.
“First of all, praise to Helensvale who really did bring everything and the kitchen sink at us,” Burleigh coach Matt Foster said post-match.
“Our completions in the first half were 10 of 17 and I think they were 16 of 16 with the ball. They really brought it to us and made us have to step up and fortunately we had the chance to do that in the second half.”
Foster said the Bears were out-enthused by their plucky visitors in the first 40 minutes but was pleased with the response after halftime.
“The only way to beat energy is with energy,” he said.
“We’re trying to drive a mentality of not having to score on every play. Be smart, let the ball do the work and our physicality to d a job on the opposition. In the second half we saw the fruits of that.
“When a team like Helensvale plays like they did today they come with answers defensively, so it’s about being patient and getting repeat sets and applying pressure that way.”
Fuller’s incredible performance had his coach asking the question of when not if he would get a chance at the next level.
“He’s a freak of a talent and a great bloke to have in your team because he can create something out of nothing in an instant,” Foster said.
“He’s someone we really should be pushing to play at a higher level.”
RUGBY LEAGUE GOLD COAST ROUND 2 A-GRADE RESULTS -
Tugun 26 def. Currumbin 12 at Galleon Way
Runaway Bay 34 def. Southport 4 at Bycroft Oval
Burleigh 44 def. Helensvale 10 at Pizzey Park
BYE: Mudgeeraba
LADDER: 1. Burleigh 2. Runaway Bay 3. Tugun 4. Mudgeeraba 5. Southport 6. Helensvale 7. Currumbin
TOP FIVE PERFORMERS
Shallin Fuller
“Did I get a hat-trick? I didn’t know.” Burleigh’s fleet of foot five-eight was easily best on ground at Pizzey Park, running in two first-half tries and completing his hat-trick just five minutes after returning for the second half.
Already a damaging ball player, Fuller’s gift is the threat he poses with his legs - teams have to respect every part of his game.
Alan White
When Helensvale was in the grind in the first half it came largely off the back of White’s good work.
His move from Ormeau Shearers looks a pivotal signing for the Hornets, who now have one of the best ball playing halves in the competition. All of Helensvale’s attacking raids ran through White, and his kicking game will earn them plenty of points this season.
Lochlyn Sheldon
Burleigh’s back-rower has eyes on an Intrust Super Cup berth and he did his chances no harm with a quality performance on Sunday.
Sheldon racked up the tackles in the first half when the game was on the line and regularly made metres coming out of defence for Matt Foster’s side. Sheldon is the plug-and-play forward that a coach loves, because he’ll always do his job.
Jordan Scott
The Bears’ starting rake was already quietly playing a quality game when he was forced to shift to lock following an injury to skipper Reece Summer.
As a ball playing forward Scott did his job perfectly and Burleigh lost no go-forward with Summer out. Reece McKenzie-O’Brien deputised well at dummy half in Scott’s stead, crossing for a try in the second half.
Bailey Court
Court knows Pizzey Park well, having played HDC U20s for Burleigh previously. In his first A-Grade game for his boyhood club, Court was a constant threat around the ruck and a physical presence in the tackle.
He and halfback Alan White were the main architects of any Hornets attacking raid and, though the second half got away from them, Court toiled for the full 80.
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