Burleigh rookie helps overcome injury crisis, while a Tugun star reveals what put him on course for a breakout season

With his side already missing 12 key players, and others felled during the contest, a youngster stood up and made a palpable statement on the eve of finals.

As the Burleigh Bears’ troops dropped across the park, injuries threatening to derail their quest for three-straight titles, a young hooker announced himself as one of the rookies to watch heading into the do or die phase of the season.

The defending champions were missing 12 players heading into a top of the table clash against Southport on Sunday — some in the casualty ward, some through suspension, others to Queensland Cup duties.

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Even in the throes of the contest, four more men came out of contact with blood gushing from above their eye, with 27 stitches being required between Manny Snooks and Cooper Hornburg alone to nurse the wounds.

But through the carnage, Josiah Afu stood tall in a clinical display to help mastermind a 32-28 triumph over the powerhouse Tigers.

Bears leader Jordan Scott is on the cusp of returning from injury. Picture by Richard Gosling

Having only joined the Burleigh ranks this season upon his move to the Glitter Strip from New Zealand, Afu was forced to bide his time in reserve grade behind skipper Jordan Scott.

Since Scott was sidelined following surgery on his thumb, Afu has risen to the occasion, with his instinctive play style adding a probing dynamic to his side’s attack. At times, he has even lined up in the halves, shifted to lock and even centre

And on the back of a two-try effort — as well as four goals — Burleigh coach Matt Foster declared that the Kings Christian College teacher had cemented himself in the top 17 on the eve of the Rugby League Gold Coast finals.

“(Scott’s) got to get some clearance with his thumb after surgery, so we’re hoping this weekend coming (he’ll be back) but if not then first week finals … (but) Josiah will be in there somewhere — whether it’s at six, nine or 14,” Foster said.

“Josiah only got into A-grade in the second half of the season, he was reserve grade a lot but credit to his persistence and patience and his resilience.

“He kept working hard and he was playing really well in reggies, and then Jordan Scott got injured so he came in from there and wherever we put him he’s been really good, particularly on the weekend.

“He’s very much a play what’s in front of him kind of player, so we just let him lose to play what he saw.”

Burleigh Bears rookie Josiah Afu in action. Picture: Supplied

Amid the injury carnage, and QCup call ups for the likes of Kurtis Rowe, Foster handed under-20s edge forward Aston Bai — a former student of the coach’s at Marymount College — and he rewarded the faith with a try on the stroke of halftime.

South African hockey gun-turned rugby league speedster Luke Pereira De Vlieg also earned his first call up, scoring a crucial double after the Tigers had launched a brilliant comeback in the space of 12 minutes.

After Burleigh stormed out of the gates to lead 16-2 at halftime, Southport scored four tries in quick time to suddenly lead by 12 points, before De Vlieg and Afu got the men of Pizzey Park over the line.

The win could prove crucial in helping Burleigh clinch the minor premiership, and with that a chance to rest the weary squad.

Aston Bai pictured in his Marymount College days. Picture Glenn Hampson

However Foster said Sunday’s win proved whoever pulled on the maroon and white colours would be up for the finals fight.

“We’ve got four or five that should be coming back either this week or next week, but we’ll see. I know (the) Queensland Cup (side) got a couple of injures from the weekend so that might take some from us, we just don’t know,” he said.

“The one thing that gives us a fair bit of warmth is the heart and desire those players we call up come in with.”

BREAKOUT STAR OF 2022 REVEALS WHAT INSPIRED HUGE SEASON

Zac Beecher’s battered and bruised ribs may leave him walking wounded for some time yet, but in Tugun’s quest to end a nine year premiership drought they are battle scars he is eager to wear.

The limp in Beecher’s step, having copped the brunt of a formidable Mudgeeraba forward pack, was a testament to the old adage that sometimes the scoreline does not cast a true reflection of a contest.

One of the breakout stars of the 2022 Rugby League Gold Coast campaign, the second-year Seahawk’s shift to fullback has proven to be a masterstroke, and he was at his probing best again in his side’s 30-0 triumph over the Redbacks.

The victory may prove to be pivotal in the context of the Seahawks title hopes, with a tough finish to the regular season against a powerhouse Southport outfit looming.

Zac Beecher, pictured against Runaway Bay, was strong again against Mudgeeraba. Picture by Richard Gosling

With sights set on a home final, Beecher said plenty of men in the Tugun ranks would be bringing minor injuries into the do or die phase of the season.

He said while he had only arrived on the Glitter Strip from Ballina last year, he had quickly found a new home on Boyd Street and knew all too well what a first title since 2013 would mean to the Seahawks faithful.

”We’ve become pretty close as a club and just the moral around it is just great. I love this club and to bring the trophy home would just be unreal,” Beecher said.

“Hopefully we can get it done this year, last year we were so close but Burleigh were just too good. We’re still missing a couple of lads so hopefully we can get them back and rip into finals.”

While the likes of powerhouse winger Fetuli Talanoa are still sidelined, the Seahawks have been boosted in recent weeks by the return of Jack Cook from a stint in France, earning a Gold Coast Vikings jersey days into his move back to the region.

The hooker-lock iced Saturday’s contest with a try in the last play of the game, capitalising on a Mudgeeraba error close to their own line.

Zac Beecher scores for the Gold Coast Vikings. Picture by Richard Gosling

In wet conditions, mistakes became synonymous with the second half of the clash, as the sheer brutality of the opening exchanges brought fatigue into the game ahead of schedule.

Despite his seemingly quieter demeanour off the field, Beecher’s voice and commanding instructions from the back was instrumental in marshalling his teammates into the right positions, with dummy-half Sam Meskell and halfback Michael Burgess pulling the strings on the back of that foundation.

Having spent most of his rugby league days in the number nine jumper, Beecher’s shift to the back has added a gritty dimension to the Seahawks attack, his six tries for the year telling a small part of his involvement throughout the year.

Beecher credited his rapid adjustment to the number one jersey to the faith put in him by coach Clint Barends, as well as extensive assistance of former Melbourne Storm fullback Paul Sheedy.

“Moving to fullback was all of a sudden, they were talking about it late last year and then it just kind of happened,” Beecher said.

“I didn’t think I would go to fullback because we’ve got some other good fullbacks in the team, but then it just worked out well.

“It’s the boys that make it easier for me … and it’s been really good for me being able to work with Sheedy. He always comes early to training with me just to practice on things that I need to so.

“He takes time out of his day (to help me) and I can’t thank him enough really.”

TRIES GALORE AS RUNAWAY BAY AND ORMEAU DOMINATE

In a game that featured more attacking highlights than a Bruce Willis movie, Runaway Bay found a way to fight passed Currumbin.

The Seagulls emerged from Sunday’s Rugby League Gold Coast clash 46-30 victors, sending an ominous finals warning courtesy of a hat-trick to winger Walker Smith.

The Eagles came out swinging from the opening whistle, scoring the first three tries within the opening 10 minutes of the contest.

Lachlan Smith scored in a losing cause for Currumbin . Pic Mike Batterham

But the Seagulls have showcased throughout the season that when they shift the ball they are a force to be reckoned with. But somehow, when it came to prolific scoring, they were still outdone.

While Nick Gleeson’s men slugged it out at Galleon Way, the Ormeau Shearers put Helensvale to the sword in a 64-10 demolition job.

Three tries to fullback Tawera Toia led the way, while five-eighth Jack Rogers extended his lead as the competition’s leading point scorer with two tries and 10 goals.

A double to prop James Tutuila also took him to equal third for tries alongside Rogers. They have each crossed nine times.