Run Home: Key men and games to decide your team’s Rugby League Gold Coast finals fate
As Gold Coast Rugby League enters its race to finals contention, we take a look at each side's chance and key player behind their late season charge. FULL ANALYSIS HERE >>
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“It could be a scary, daunting task for a few teams coming up.”
That was the bold declaration of Mudgeeraba coach Martin Griese, and the return of two key men appears to have justified his words.
Just two weeks on from their two-point defeat to Burleigh, the Redbacks put on a clinic against the defending champions, fuelled by the frustrations of that loss to triumph 44-8.
While a one-point loss to Ormeau followed that setback, both clashes were without the services of fullback Kyle Williams, who made an immediate impression on his comeback.
Having suffered from the same ankle injury that hindered the early exchanges his season, Williams' composure at the back orchestrated an intense Mudgeeraba defensive line that the Bears simply could not crack often enough.
His goal kicking was another welcome addition, kicking six from the tee, given the Redbacks’ past two losses have come despite scoring an equal number of tries as their rivals.
Griese admitted his star number one was not yet back to full fitness, and would likely have to handle the fitness concern for the remainder of the campaign.
However he said health obstacles would not form any excuses from this point onwards, and while Williams carried significant importance to the team’s success there would be few others who were not in the same boat.
“He’s crucial having him at 100 per cent fitness, but let’s be realistic at this time no one is at 100 per cent fitness,” Griese said.
“Everyone will have some niggles and what not so we just have to manage whatever we’ve got to do to get him to play on a weekend.
“He’s just that calming influence because he’s sort of an out and out fullback; it’s his positional play and he gets to his spots quite quickly and can get the ball back wherever we need it pretty fast.
“We’ve got pretty good depth so the people who have been coming up have been playing really well.
“We’re still a work in progress which is good, we don’t want to peak too early so could be a scary, daunting task for a few teams coming up. Every game is important at the moment.”
Those forthcoming teams will all be outfits sitting beneath them on the ladder, with contest against Runaway Bay this Sunday to be followed by games against Helensvale and Currumbin.
From there, however, they will the other three sides inside the top four with them for the last push into finals, and the return of another crucial figure could be what helps build momentum into the business end of the year.
Hooker Danny Kerr has recently made his way back onto the field after ending up in hospital due to what Griese described as kidney failure.
Not that the crafty dummy-half has seemed to miss a beat, coming off the bench to score two tries on Saturday afternoon against the titleholders.
“Danny’s health is a lot better than what it has been which is good, he’s just a quality player so it definitely helps us (having him back),” Griese said.
“He was having kidney failures, I don’t know the official term of what it was called but he was in hospital for probably a week or so I’d say and he’s had to change a few things up in his diet and training and that kind of stuff.
“He’s just a quality player, you don’t need to train him much or tell him what to do. He plays off the cuff and eyes up football.”
KEY MEN AND GAMES TO DECIDE YOUR TEAM’S FINALS FATE
SOUTHPORT TIGERS — 1st (10 games: 7-0-3, 24 points)
Round 12 v Currumbin
Round 13 v Ormeau
Round 14 v Helensvale
Round 15 v Burleigh
Round 7 catch up v Helensvale
Round 16 v Mudgeeraba
Round 17 v Tugun
This is an interesting set up for the current ladder leaders. Southport’s next three matches all come against the current bottom three sides, before they then take on defending champions Burleigh, title dark horse Mudgeeraba and 2021 grand finalists Tugun. While the minor premiership at this point could well be theirs to lose, those final three games could be the perfect tune up for their finals campaign. Perform well, learn some lessons, and they will be well steeled to take those sides on again. But to ensure they are up for the challenge, these next trio of matches will be crucial to build momentum. The Tigers clash with Mudgeeraba looms as their biggest test. Twice this year the Redbacks have thwarted them — the only side yet to lose to a stacked yellow and black line up.
KEY MAN: Greg Bird — Second Row
He may be closer to 40 than 30 these days, but Greg Bird will never not be a titan of rugby league. Backed with more than 300 games of first-grade experience, as well as 18 State of Origin caps and 17 appearances for Australia, Bird knows what it takes to battle it out on rugby league’s biggest stages with plenty on the line. How he galvanises the team over these final six rounds will be crucial, with his influence to then truly come to the fore in the finals.
BURLEIGH BEARS — 2nd (9 games: 7-0-2; 23 points)
Round 3 catch up v Mudgeeraba
Round 12 v Ormeau
Round 13 v Currumbin
Round 14 v Runaway Bay
Round 15 v Southport
Round 7 catch up v Runaway Bay
Round 16 v Tugun
Round 17 v Mudgeeraba
The defending champions have perhaps the toughest draw of anyone heading into the finals. Burleigh will face only two sides outside the current top five, and their two clashes with teams in the bottom three come packed with danger. Currumbin went within a whisker of causing a shock upset in Round Six — scoring the same number of tries but going down by a conversion. Ormeau meanwhile threatened to stage a second half comeback when they last faced off with the Bears, only for defensive lapses in the back end of the contest to open the floodgates. Burleigh’s Round 16 clash with Tugun could be their defining moment, given the Seahawks won convincingly in their last outing. That grand final rematch could have the makings of a brilliant pre-finals experience.
KEY MAN: Jordan Scott — Hooker
In the modern game there is arguably no position which holds as much importance as hooker, and Bears rake Jordan Scott is perhaps the pick of the bench on the Glitter Strip. The Gold Coast Vikings dummy-half provides the extra spark and creativity from the ruck that draw attention away from Burleigh’s other attacking weapons such as Conor Carey, Kurtis Rowe and Allan Lockwood. An experienced campaigner with premiership and Queensland Cup exposure under his belt, Scott’s composure and influence up against some high quality hookers throughout the competition could be the difference for the titleholders.
TUGUN SEAHAWKS — 3rd (11 games: 6-0-5, 23 points)
Round 12 v Helensvale
Round 13 v Runaway Bay
Round 14 v Ormeau
Round 15 v Mudgeeraba
Round 16 v Burleigh
Round 17 v Southport
A tough finish to prior to the finals puts Tugun in a similar position to Southport in terms of how it has the potential to truly toughen them up for the do-or-die part of the campaign. The difference, however, for the Seahawks in the ladder logjam. While they are only one point off Southport on top, Ormeau are looming if they can string some strong performances together, making their Round 14 clash with the Shearers a crucial one in the context of their season. Add to that, they have played all scheduled games thus far, meaning those sides battling with them for a spot at the end have an extra chance up their sleeves to change the game.
KEY MAN: Matthew Koellner — Prop/Lock
If he had his way, Matthew Koellner would play 80 minutes in the middle of the field. The man has an engine that refuses to turn off, regularly taking carries that reach up to 20m — dragging many would-be tacklers with him. But there is more to Koellner that his aggression and relentless approach; Seahawks coach Clint Barends has already this season lauded his ability to lay tries on for his teammates, adding a passing dynamic to his game. For Tugun’s attacking players such as fullback Zac Beecher to make an impact against the likes of Burleigh and Southport they need the forwards to lay a platform, and Koellner — along with fellow middle man Josh Harvey — will be tasked with leading that charge.
RUNAWAY BAY SEAGULLS — 4th (10 games: 6-0-4, 22 points)
Round 12 v Mudgeeraba
Round 13 v Tugun
Round 14 v Burleigh
Round 15 v Currumbin
round 7 catch up v Burleigh
Round 16 v Ormeau
Round 17 v Helensvale
If they can salvage a win or two in the next three weeks, Runaway Bay could thrust themselves into home final contention. For all the talent in the Seagulls line up, a flaw in their campaign has been an inability to take down the top sides. Injuries and Queensland Cup call ups have juggled the roster significantly, and in turn they have lost to Southport twice — including an emphatic 46-8 defeat last week — Mudgeeraba in convincing fashion and Tugun. In the wins they have registered in recent times against the teams beneath them on the ladder, Runaway Bay have still had to fight against Currumbin and Ormeau to claim narrow wins. Nevertheless, they still beat them, and if they can keep close to their first choice side on the park for consecutive weeks they could set themselves up for a strong run to the finish, with their final three contests coming against the bottom trio.
KEY MAN: Tyler Han — Fullback
Tyler Han’s involvement in the business end of the season will depend on whether he gets picked in the Queensland Cup again, having made his Papua New Guinea Hunters debut in 2022. However should he line up for Nick Gleesons’ men, the dynamic fullback could be the x-factor needed to break a game wide open. Fast with fleet feet, the Seagulls star provides a point of difference in attack that no side has. Sure they may have their own attacking weapons, but none with the same instinctive flare as Han. Should his forwards lay the platform, he has the tools to capitalise and ensure his side are smokeys for the title.
MUDGEERABA REDBACKS — 5th (9 games: 6-0-3, 21 points)
Round 3 catch up v Burleigh
Round 12 v Runaway Bay
Round 13 v Helensvale
Round 14 v Currumbin
Round 15 v Tugun
Round 7 catch up v Currumbin
Round 16 v Southport
Round 17 v Burleigh
Ladder positions and player prestige have meant little to the boys of Mudgeeraba. No matter who was put in front of them they fought to the finish, claiming two wins of the stacked Southport line up, avenging their Round 1 two-point loss to Tugun and only going down to Burleigh by a conversion. A surprise one-point loss to Ormeau is perhaps their only speed bump thus far, and will have them wary for all sides ahead of them. If Ormeau cause a couple more upsets, it could put the Redbacks in a position where they need to beat Burleigh in the final round to qualify for the finals. But this team has embodied the ‘playing for each other’ mentality, which has been key to coach Martin Griese’s philosophy and it shows in their results given they have never lost by more than two points. If they make the finals, they could be the dark horse to take it out when a win or perish mindset comes into play.
KEY MAN: Kyle Williams — Fullback
Everything seemed to be going to script for Mudgeeraba; causing upset, galvanising as a group and playing a truly gritty brand of football. But for the past two weeks, with fullback Kyle Williams on the sidelines, they have faltered — losing two tight contests to Burleigh and Ormeau. While it is hard to read too much into a loss to the defending champions despite scoring the same amount of tries, the one point defeat to the Shearers was one of the surprises of the season. It spoke to the influence of Williams, who earlier in the season Redbacks coach lauded as the composed organiser at the back who held the team together. His return will be crucial for their end of yer charge, as will his ability to finish off a backline movement with class.
ORMEAU SHEARERS — 6th (10 games: 4-0-6; 18 points)
Round 3 catch up v Currumbin
Round 12 v Burleigh
Round 13 v Southport
Round 14 v Tugun
Round 15 v Helensvale
Round 16 v Runaway Bay
Round 17 v Currumbin
Ormeau coach Stuart Wilkins said at the start of the year, Burleigh Bears Queensland Cup coach Rick Stone stressed to him to not set out and try to win the competition in the club’s first season back. It was advice Wilkins took to heart, but suddenly their gutsy win over Mudgeeraba has put them firmly on the finals radar. A win over Currumbin this week would give them the momentum of three-straight victories, before entering a tough period against the current top three. While they are yet to beat the leading trio, the Shearers have at times shown fight against them — a 20 minute period against Burleigh edging them close and an early two-try lead over Southport in Round 6 the highlights for them in those contests. Those clashes will be the truest tests of whether or not the young side have learnt from their early season misgivings, before they take on Helensvale, Runaway Bay and Currumbin again. Ormeau’s battle with the Seagulls looms as the decisive fixture, given they have only gone down by four points in their two meetings.
KEY MAN: Issac Luke — Hooker
There are several of established NRL veterans continuing to pull on the boots in the Gold Coast competition. Greg Bird, Ben Hannant, Sam Tagataese and Zeb Taia have all taken to the field and provided plenty of experience to their respective teams. However Ormeau hooker Issac Luke has perhaps produced the most on the field. Looking as though he could still play first-grade, Luke’s impact has been particularly important off the field, as coach Stuart Wilkins attempts to cement a culture at the club to avoid falling out of the top competition again. The fruits of that are beginning to show, with club juniors such as Coen Rankmore and Brock Priestley earning their stripes. On the park, Luke’s partnership close to the line with prop James Tutuila has been profound, while his speed out of dummy half that made him a Rabbitohs legend still has its glimpses.
CURRUMBIN EAGLES — 7th (9 games: 2-0-7, 13 points)
Round 3 catch up v Ormeau
Round 12 v Southport
Round 13 v Burleigh
Round 14 v Mudgeeraba
Round 15 v Runaway Bay
Round 7 catch up v Mudgeeraba
Round 16 v Helensvale
Round 17 v Ormeau
Currumbin come into the final seven weeks with arguably the toughest draw remaining, with the current top five all coming in consecutive weeks. Interestingly however, whenever the odds have been more stacked against them the Eagles seem to find an extra gear. Their 4-0 win over Tugun was one of the season’s biggest upsets, while a two-point loss to the Bears despite scoring the same amount of tries was impressive. But as is often the case in young, developing sides, consistency can be hard to come by. While finals may be out of the equation for the Eagles, their Round 15 clash with Runaway Bay will be coach Matt Geyer’s biggest indicator of how his team has progressed. When they last faced the Seagulls they led with six minutes to go, only for Runaway Bay duo Flynn Groth and Jack Ward to score and clinch a six-point win. A win there, and turning up with the same attitude they did against Burleigh and Tugun against the likes of Ormeau (twice) and Helensvale could mean higher ceilings for season 2023 and beyond.
KEY MAN: Tyler Creecy — Hooker
Young, quick and fearless. Tyler Creecy has all the qualities Eagles coach Matt Geyer likes to see in his players, and still he is in the fledging days of his A-grade career. Yet to turn 20, Creecy was eased into the top side in a bid to prepare him for the rigours of mens rugby league, and in part to compose him so as to not take on the biggest rival he could find such is his determination to impress. However with each challenge thrown at him, including a berth in the Vikings side, Creecy has risen to the occasion. His pace from a quick play the ball is among the best in the region, while his gutsy approach to defence ensures he frequently takes down opponents far more daunting.
HELENSVALE HORNETS — 8th (10 games: 1-0-9, 12 points)
Round 12 v Tugun
Round 13 v Mudgeeraba
Round 14 v Southport
Round 15 v Ormeau
Round 7 catch up v Helensvale
Round 16 v Currumbin
Round 17 v Runaway Bay
It has been a difficult year for Helensvale in what is just their second season in the Rugby League Gold Coast top competition. Their Round 2 win over Currumbin stands as their lone triumph, and in a team that has often been disjointed with Papua New Guinea Hunters players infrequently coming into the line up the cohesion has not quite clicked. The rest of the season will now be about building for the future, with defence no doubt to be a key focus point. In seven of their 10 games this year, the Hornets have conceded 40 points or more and they will be hungry to keep the same side on the park so that their key defensive combinations can build. There are some impressive youngsters coming through the ranks, backed
KEY MAN: Jay Blazek — Lock
The heart and soul of what has been a tough campaign for the Hornets, Jay Blazek simply refuses to give us. The long haired lock seems to never look at the scoreboard: no play is worth giving up on, no moment is a wasted one. His chase in vein to prevent an Ormeau Shearers runaway try from the other side of the field perhaps typified this best, and time after time he is on hand to take a hit up — whether he is coming out of his own end or raiding the try line. Blazek adopts the same attitude in defence. He has set the standard for his Helensvale teammates, now they need to rise to his challenge to salvage something from their second season as an A-grade outfit.
ORMEAU GUN’S PERFORMANCE THRUST SHEARERS INTO CONTENTION
— June 24
Fresh off piecing together one of the finest individual performances of the season, Ormeau five-eighth Jack Rogers will need to keep their quest for a shock finals berth running without the man who has freed up his game play.
The son of dual-code legend Mat, Rogers has clearly picked up a thing or two from his famous namesake when it comes to his boot — a final minute field goal causing a 29-28 upset triumph over Mudgeeraba.
In addition to his last gasp clutch play, Rogers scored two tries himself while continuing his goal kicking exploits that have him 19 points clear of Tugun halfback Michael Burgess as this season’s leading point scorer (85).
However Shearers coach Stuart Wilkins has revealed halfback Connor Toia will miss Sunday’s clash with Currumbin, as his side seek to win three games on the trot and put themselves just one point out of the top five.
He said the loss of his number seven has a cruel blow, given how he and Rogers had begun to gel as a pairing, but he was full of confidence that the next man in would take the reigns with aplomb.
“It’s that cohesion of having not played with anybody before, Connor Toia came in at the last minute and the synergy between Connor and Jack is starting to form,” Wilkins said.
“Jack’s improved out of sight in the last couple of weeks; with 15 minutes to go he was taking hit ups and making 20m making the hard carries.
“Connor will be out just for the weekend, and we’ve got almost ready made replacements and people who have played there when he wasn’t there.
“He’s been fantastic for us, but we didn’t blink an eyelid — someone will take his place.”
In what is Ormeau’s first season back in the competition, Wilkins is not necessarily plotting a premiership victory straight out of the gates.
But suddenly they have emerged as genuine finals dark horses, and remaining in the fight is exactly what he wants to see.
It has been a problem of the Shearers this campaign, a pattern of performing for passages of play only to allow teams to run over them when they lapse surfacing.
However against the high flying Redbacks there were no signs of that, and certainly there were far fewer similarities to the 44-0 drubbing they suffered the last time they faced.
It was that harrowing memory from Round 4 that Wilkins ensured his team did not forget.
He said they were embarrassed on that day and they could not hide from that, they needed to embrace it in order to test how far they had come as a group.
Now, should Burleigh defeat Mudgeeraba on Saturday and Ormeau beat Currumbin, the Shearers will be within striking distance of a finals appearance not many would have predicted.
“Our greatest challenge is Sunday; I love the cliches but it really is,” Wilkins said.
“We’ve got an opportunity to potentially make the semi-finals, we have to beat sides in front of us but I think we can do that if things go our way.
“We’ll certainly be in the fight. It’s what Ormeau need and want to be; in the fight. If they’re in the discussion for the finals that’s a really good position be in.”
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