Currumbin Eagles and Southport Tigers create their own history in Gold Coast Rugby League
Sunday’s marathon of Rugby League finished with a massively one-sided affair leaving the Tigers to became the kings of the Coast.
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Sunday’s marathon of Rugby League finished with a massively one-sided affair leaving the Tigers to became the kings of the Coast.
Southport Tigers and Tugun Seahawks battled it out on Sunday afternoon for the Gold Coast Rugby League A grade grand final.
In a very dominant display, the Tigers never let up on the Seahawks, shutting down consisent attempts to get themselves back in the game to have Southport run out 32-6 victors.
Jack Frasca, Michael Oldfield and Benjamin Thomas score a try a piece in the first half with Jaman Rio converting on four out of his six attempts for the game.
Kye Williams was the shining light for the Seahawks, scoring the only try and converting on the kick as well.
It capped off a massive day for rugby league at UAA Park, which features the Currumbin Eagles win two from three when they competed in the under 18’s Div 1, under 20s and Reserves grade grand finals.
Burleigh Bears faced off against Currumbin Eagles in the under 18’s Div 1 competition to kick start the day at 10:30, with the first grand final living up to the expectation.
The Bears held a six-point lead early in the second half before a rampaging Eagles took flight, to run out premiers 26-16.
The Eagles squad stuck around to watch the under 20s with Currumbin facing off against Runaway Bay at 12pm.
Currumbin opened the scoring early with a try and a conversion inside the opening 10 minutes.
A quick reply by the Bay in response before the Eagles answered right back to go into the half time break 10-6.
The Bay ran away with it in the second half, converting on both second half tries to run out winners 22-14 and stop the chance of the Eagles making it a clean sweep of three from three.
The reserves grand final was Currumbin’s third team of the day, lining up against Burleigh Bears, kicking off at 1:30pm.
The Eagles headed into the first half with a narrow lead after scoring two tries to one but both teams failing to convert.
Fullback Benjamin Kebby opened the scoring for the Eagles inside the first four minutes of the second half.
From there, it went try for try as both teams chased the ultimate dream but in the end the Eagles were too strong, running out winners 24-16.
The under 18’s Div 2 was played on Saturday afternoon with the Beaudesert Kingfishers too strong for the Burleigh Bears Maroons, winning 32-20
Most reliable, rookie game breakers: GCRL finals breakdown
The Gold Coast Rugby League grand finals are upon us as teams put in their final preparation for the big games.
We take a look at the match ups of the A-Grade, under-20s and the under-18’s, Div 1 and Div 2 competitions and get the final word from the coaches.
A Grade – Tugun Seahawks v Southport Tigers
Southport Tigers – 1st (14 wins, 1 loss) 43 points.
The Tigers haven’t dropped a game since the opening round against Burleigh Bears and will look to extend its current 15 game winning streak to 16 if they win on Sunday.
The last time the Tigers came up against Tugun was in round 13, smashing the Seahawks 28-0.
The expertise of former NRL players Eddy Pettybourne, Sione Katoa and Michael Oldfield have helped with the dominance of the Tigers and Sunday’s grand final will be the trio’s final game.
Coach Steve Dowd answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Eddy Pettybourne, Sione Katoa and Michael Oldfield
Most reliable – All players were pretty reliable
Youngest – Sam Shannon (21), he was a Southport junior and has come through the ranks
Biggest Pest – Malachi Morgan, just being Malachi, he is a good man.
Team superstitions – Have worn black socks since round three
Tugun Seahawks – 4th (6 wins, 1 draw, 8 losses) 28 points.
The Seahawks have done it the hard way to get to the Gold Coast Rugby League grand final, needing to win every game from this finals series.
An eight point win over Runaway Bay in week one took them to line up against second placed Burleigh Bears.
Breezing past the Bears in the semi final, into the preliminary final making light work of the Currumbin Eagles to now come up against a team that only lost one game all year.
Coach Clint Barends answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Josh Harvey, Sam Meskell (c)
Most reliable – The whole team, couldn’t say anyone individually.
Youngest – Cooper Cambey (19)
Biggest Pest – Jack Glossop, always buzzing around, wouldn’t call him a pest as such but he would be the closest out of everyone. He brings the group up with his energy that’s for sure.
Team superstition – No team superstition
Under 20s – Runaway Bay v Currumbin Eagles
Runaway Bay – 1st (8 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses) 38 points
The Bay got a rude awakening in the final round of the season, getting smashed by Helensvale 38-14 but it could have been the wake up call the side needed to not get ahead of themselves.
They flicked a switch in the first week of the finals, running out comfortable victors against second placed Burleigh Bears 38-16.
The two teams have come up against each other three times with the scoreline sitting level at one win a piece and a draw in the final meeting in round 13.
Coach Jeremy Smith answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – It is hard to say, we have a lot of experience from players, but if I had to choose, probably Dom Lambert
Most reliable – Tane Lees
Youngest – Klay Tancred
Biggest Pest – Esmonde Parangi, he just doesn’t shut up
Team superstition – Not really
Currumbin Eagles – 3rd (6 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses) 34 points.
The Eagles took the long road to the grand final this year after missing out on the chance to finish second, they required to win both games to make it to Sunday’s big dance.
Coming up against a side they dominated in round three, winning 48-24, will give them confidence and look back at what went right in that clash.
But they will also need to take note of what went wrong when the two teams met again in round eight where they lost 36-28 and in round 13 when they were deadlocked at the final siren 28-all.
Coach Jayde Batchelor answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Jack and Tom Campbell, who are part of our forward pack would probably be some of our most experienced. They both were playing A grade at the back end of the year.
Most reliable – Isaak Cullen, our unsung hero really, he has been our front rower which looking at him you wouldn’t think he plays that role but he has become a real leader for us this finals series.
Youngest – It might be either Isaak or Cole Martin, both are still eligible to play 20s next year.
Biggest Pest – Everyone would have to say Cole Martin, he is a pest because he is so high energy and it is infectious. He is one of those who is always up and about at training and we sort of feed off his energy.
Team superstition – Usually it is party on Friday nights so they can recover on Saturday for Sunday’s game but I don’t think that is a superstition, just being that age.
Under 18’s Div 1 – Currumbin Eagles v Burleigh Bears
Burleigh Bears – 1st (10 wins, 2 losses) 41 points
The Bears have made light work of the finals series so far, breezing past Southport Tigers in their way through the semi final to earn a spot in the grand final this Sunday.
The two teams have met three times this season with Currumbin claiming victory in the first outing before the Bears dominated game two and narrowly winning in game three.
Coach Brent McConnell answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Bailey McConnell, Sam McCalister but there would be a handful of the group that have played since under 6’s.
Most reliable – Talas Abell, he is our front rower and has been really consistent this year.
Youngest – We have about seven 17-year-olds but not sure which one of those would be the youngest.
Biggest pest – Kyan Baz because he just doesn’t stop talking
Team superstition – No team superstition
Currumbin Eagles – 3rd (6 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses) 32 points.
It has been a tough finals run for Currumbin who have still managed to make their way into the grand final.
The Eagles have been without 12 of their players due to the National School Boys Cup and coach Cameron Cooper said the whole club is getting behind the players who have stepped up from the under 18’s Div 2 side to fill the gaps left.
They were manhandled in the first week of the finals by Southport (44-6) only to bounce back the next two weeks beating Coomera Cutters 28-12 and then knocking Southport out in the preliminary final 16-14.
Coach Cameron Cooper answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Bailey Simpson, was one of the players who won the competition last season.
Most reliable – Jace Williams
Youngest – Phil Coates (16), the younger brother of Papua New Guinea international rugby league star Xavier Coates.
Biggest pest – Emmet Rose, he just does silly dances, keeps up with those TikTok dances.
Team superstition – We use an old kit bag, it is what they club has used when they have won flags, it has the same footy’s, cones and is just torn to shreds now.
Under 18’s Div 2 – Beaudesert Kingfishers v Burleigh Bears Maroon
Beaudesert Kingfishers – 1st (12 wins, 1 loss) 40 points.
A massive season for Beaudesert has them sitting comfortably placed in first at the end of the regular home and away season.
Instead of watching the preliminary final between Burleigh and Southport, the team went and played golf together to focus on continually enjoying each others company.
The last time these two teams met was in the first week of the finals, with the Kingfishers scoring on the buzzer to run out 24-20 winners.
Coach Brendan Fraser answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Zac Fraser (c), Jacob Kurz and Dylan Haack – Zac and Dylan have the Mal Meninga Cup experience as well.
Most reliable – The whole team have been, great bunch of kids
Youngest – We have about eight players who are 16, turning 17 in October November
Biggest pest – Jesse Sherriff, it would be his simple personality, nothing worries him and I think it has been a good thing for us at times.
Team superstition – Don’t really have one.
Burleigh Bears Maroon – 2nd (9 wins, 2 losses) 34 points
The Bears set the tone early that they were one of the best sides in the comp with winning comfortably in the first three rounds before a bit of a wake up the next two weeks.
Returning to winning form, the Bears clawed their way to owning second spot, which earned the right to go into Sunday’s big clash as the underdog.
Coach Jeff Orford said despite being that, they are confident they can beat Beaudesert.
Coach Jeff Orford answers to questions asked by the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Most experienced – Mason Robertson, he is our captain and has played Div 1 as well, but there have been players from this group that have played since they were six.
Most reliable – Bailey Scott, he is our front rower and he is always at training, first to a game, always helping out.
Youngest – We have a couple of 16-year-olds, but three quarters of our side turned 17 or are 17.
Biggest pest – Kade Fahey, he doesn’t shut up
Team superstition – Don’t really have one.
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