Bond leader’s inspired return, Griffith bounce back: Gold Coast rugby union Round 8 analysis

The comeback of an inspirational leader has coincided with Bond’s return to the winner’s circle, while the Knights made a statement after more than a month off the field. FULL ROUND BREAKDOWN HERE >>

The comeback of an inspirational leader has coincided with Bond’s return to the winner’s circle. Now the Pirates head of rugby Buck Heron has declared if they were to “make a statement” in 2022, they could not bask in that victorious glow for too long.

Bond number eight Brad Plant has been sidelined for the past six weeks, suffered a knee ligament injury early in the season.

His return to the field sparked the young forwards in the side’s line up, and the rugby nous he brought proved crucial for much of their 35-17 win over the Gold Coast Eagles.

Heron said for the majority of the contest the game was a genuine grind, after the Eagles bounced back from conceding the first two tries to level the scores.

Bond Pirates skipper Brad Plant returned from injury against the Eagles. Picture Glenn Hampson

While he said the Pirates eventually ran away with it in the final 10 minutes, it was from the leadership shown by Plant that kept their forward pack in dominant form.

“His leadership, you can’t put a value on it. It’s really important to have him back leading the squad,” Heron said.

“He’s a well versed rugby player and he’s passionate about it. He’s got the club on his sleeve and the boys respect him, and so do the opposition.

“It made a big difference just having him on the field. Now it’s all about the grind; I think for us now we need to hit our straps if we’re going to make a statement in the competition we need to start now.

“I think we as a club have more to give, and enough time to be in a good position at the business end of the competition.”

With Plant back on deck, rookie Cyclones squad members such as Ed Gomm, Will Parker and Zachary Mason-Gale celebrated their representative selections with strong showings, while bench forward Xavier Pereka was electric once injected into the game.

Heron pointed to a pair of linebreaks Pereka made that drew the crowd of their feet, while his work in forcing a turnover led to a try assist for debutant teenage winger Fletcher Bleakley.

With Lepau Feau playing in the centres and Ethan Lolesio still sidelined with injury, club stalwart Damien Timms assumed the fullback role once again to pose plenty of headaches for the Eagles defence.

Damien Timms. Pic Mike Batterham

While the Cyclones squad member is equally capable of plying his trade on the wing, with Nerang and Griffith custodians Will Bird and Connor Kennedy in the mix for the number 15 Gold Coast jumper, Heron said the x-factor Timms brought needed to be considered.

“Fullback is where he’s a very good defender, there’s not many who get passed him, and he’s good under the high ball and counter attack,” Heron said.

“I just think with his line breaks and the amount of times he took the counter attack and made lots of yards was pretty courageous.

“If you look at the size of him, he’s about 70kg wringing wet and he got crunched a lot of times, (but) he was a weapon.

“He’s got speed and skill … and he’s a very good communicator.”

Bond Pirates 35 (J Gardiner, J Silbester-Lee, L Feau, F Bleakley, K Wernham tries; L Matehaere 4 goals) def. Gold Coast Eagles 17 (H Trathen, T Su’a, N Hohua tries; T Su’a goal)

KNIGHTS VS DOLPHINS: CHAMPIONS REBOUND FROM SHOCK DEFEAT

Right before the competition went on an extended hiatus, the defending champions were dealt their first loss in more than two years.

A combination of a bye, representative trials and torrential weather had ensured the Griffith Uni Colleges Knights had not taken the field since their 25-0 defeat to the Nerang Bulls on April 23.

How they responded from a lay off of more than a month could have determined their season, but against fellow contenders Surfers Paradise they responded in a way champions do.

When these two sides last went head to head it was a gruelling encounter, with a penalty goal in the final minute of play the difference in a Knights triumph.

As was to be expected, the two teams traded barbs for the full 80 minutes, with new Knights fly-half Edward Bernstein impressing with a try and three goals.

Griffith Knights 31 (E Bernstein, H Morris, K Graham, name not listed x 2 tries; E Bernstein 3 goals) def. Surfers Paradise Dolphins 22 (A Mathewson, F Tuinauvai, T Moeroa, name not listed tries; D Harrock goal)

GCDRU ROUND 8 LADDER

1. Griffith Uni Colleges Knights; 4 wins, 1 loss, +/- 12, 21 points

2. Nerang Bulls; 3 wins, 1 loss, +/- 73, 20 points

3. Surfers Paradise Dolphins; 3 wins, 1 loss, +/- 48, 16 points

4. Bond Pirates; 1 win, 4 loss, +/- -6, 8 points

5. Gold Coast Eagles; 1 win, 4 losses, +/- -127, 8 points