Kookaburra Cup Grand Final: Claye Beams reflects on drought-breaking title win

Last-minute Covid chaos, a 17-season premiership hoodoo and a post-match hug that said everything words couldn’t – this is what winning the Kookaburra Cup meant to Surfers Paradise. CLASSY CAPTAIN’S PRAISE

WHEN Surfers Paradise skipper Claye Beams hit the winning runs to break a 17-year Kookaburra Cup title drought for his club, the emotions came thick and fast.

Not since 2004-05 had Surfers tasted the ultimate Kookaburra Cup glory.

At times over the past four seasons they looked likely, but through a combination of Covid cancellations and washouts the Demons’ season always ended short of the prize.

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On Sunday, at 4-50 chasing 181 against a potent Runaway Bay bowling attack, on its home deck with a parochial crowd in support, the stage was set for further finals disappointment.

But Beams and Man of the Match Nathan Reardon willed themselves and their team over the line with a stunning fifth-wicket partnership that will be talked about for years to come over beers at bars up and down the Glitter Strip.

“Nathan was the cool head. He probably saved me from myself a couple of times,” Beams said of the 119-run stand.

“He just took the game away from them; didn’t take any risks and punished the bad balls. That’s his class.

“With a buggered shoulder, knee and bulging disc in his neck, for him to bowl 16 overs (on Saturday) and take three wickets was game-changing.”

The emotion in the immediate aftermath was that of relief for Beams, after the near-misses in recent seasons.

But after reflection and sharing in the spoils with those at the club, it crystallised for the skipper just what the win truly meant.

Claye Beams celebrates after hitting the winning runs to claim a grand final victory for Surfers Paradise. Photo: KPM Sports Images

“Probably more the joy of seeing what it means to everyone else,” he said.

“That’s what I told the boys before we ran out: ‘This isn’t about us – it is, but it’s not – take it in over the next couple of days and realise what it means for everyone else.”

Just how important the moment was became apparent to Beams when he was embraced by one of the club’s most loved people, Dave Bristow.

“He lost his young fella a few months ago. To see him walk out and give me a cuddle at the end was nice, it makes you realise it’s not about you, it’s about everyone else,” Beams said.

“To see a smile on his face in a very challenging time was just nice.”

But not everyone got their fairytale moment.

Spare a thought for young gun opener Harry Ryan, who was forced to withdraw from both the Kookaburra Cup decider and his Turf Juniors grand final after testing positive to Covid on Friday.

Club stalwart Chris Swan was drafted in on short notice and bagged the prized wicket of Bay opener Jayden Hoare.

Ryan will get his grand final chance again but for Swan, this was a song to savour having likely thought his title chances had vanished.

“Normally you would say it creates an opportunity for a young bloke, but we brought in a 40-year-old,” Beams joked.

Bat or ball, Nathan Reardon did it all in a Man of the Match performance for Surfers Paradise in the Kookaburra Cup grand final. Photo: KPM Sports Images

“On Thursday-Friday there’s on way in the world he would have been thinking he would be winning a first grade grand final.

“It’s unfortunate for the (Ryan) … but for Chris, a club stalwart to come in and do the job he did, it was nice to see.”

Jono Baldock added further polish to the win after bringing up his 200th wicket for the club when he took two big scalps on the Saturday.

“It makes the driving down from Brisbane on a Thursday and Saturday worthwhile,” Beams said.

“It’s reward for effort, I suppose. You feel like you’ve done a good job and it was all worth something, worth the reward in the end.”