GCDRU Finals Hub: Biggest news and stories in sprint to the title
A man donned the “ultimate Knight” has ended his career with a slice of history in Saturday’s grand final. RELIVE THE GCDRU FINALS ACTION HERE >>
It is time for the business end of the Gold Coast rugby union season, with the leading men of the code on the Glitter Strip out to peak at the perfect time.
GRAND FINAL: Griffith triumph in emotional swansong for ‘ultimate Knight’
There could be no more fitting way for the “ultimate Knight” to end his days on the field.
Griffith stalwart Wayde Scott was met with the biggest cheer of Saturday afternoon when he stepped onto the field for the last time, as his beloved club stormed to a third straight Gold Coast District Rugby Union title.
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As the red clad army lifted the Phil Temperton Trophy on the back of a 32-12 triumph over Surfers Paradise, it was Scott who led the celebrations, embracing each of his teammates and in particular close friend and coach Shaun Cole.
As injuries hit the defending champions early in the campaign, Cole sent out an SOS to past players to don the Griffith colours once again, with Scott taking little convincing to go around again.
The pair have known each other for more than 20 years, two country lads from Orange who have found a home on the Glitter Strip, and the rookie head coach said there were few men more deserving of the send off Scott received.
“I’ve been involved in footy with him for over 20 years now, playing and coaching now obviously. He’s just the ultimate Knight, he wears his heart on his sleeve every single week,” Cole said.
“He’s given so much to this club, playing sometimes two or three games in one day, and all the boys respect him so much. He’s just the ultimate club man and he deserved that last 20 minutes he got to really send him off a winner.
“He’s been busy, he’s got four kids now so he needs to spend more time with them, but he’ll still be around. He’s my best mate, so he’ll be around if I ever need a hand.
“The whole reason he came back this year was to give me a hand when we did go through that injury crisis very early on. I can’t thank him enough, the same with Jason Beeton, same with Edward Bernstein – they just came back to help out and they reaped the rewards.
“It wasn’t too hard, they know the type of club we are so when you send out the SOS it’s pretty much a yes straight away.”
From the outset the Knights had clearly come with a game plan in mind to spread the Gilbert and attack the edges, with backs Kenneth Hemopo, Blake Griffin, Cameron Dodd, Kadison Graham and Beeton all crossing the white line.
To the Dolphins credit they never backed down, with tries to skipper Tyler Meredith and Bob Sinclair Medal winner Fetongi Tuinauvai threatening to set up a grandstand finish. The fact that it came after a yellow card reduced the minor premiers to 14 men.
But this was a Griffith unit who were never going to be denied. In his first year at the helm of the club, Cole said he felt there were always questions being asked of his side and whether or not they could keep their formidable dynasty alive.
And Cole said there would be even more to come from his squad, with the early indications pointing to much the same team taking the field again come 2023.
He said those same external opinions that doubted their quest had fuelled them throughout the campaign, and was a driving force behind their rare push from outside the top two.
“I didn’t expect it but most of the boys, with (captain) Jaye Paton in particular, are really driving next year,” Cole said.
“We just want to keep going, we’ll lose players but we always bounce back and all those second graders this year getting a crack it’s only going to benefit us next year as well.
“A lot of people said we couldn’t do it — we didn’t have the players, we didn’t have the coaches, we didn’t have the depth and all this stuff — but it just showed that we’ve got the best culture on the Coast.
“We’ve had that for seven-odd years, made seven grand finals in a row. People should stop doubting this outfit and our players because it’s a very strong club.
“We might not have much at home at our club, but we’re a very strong club. None of these boys want to lose, they’ve just got too much pride, and everyone is so close.”
Prior to the Knights win, the Nerang Bulls claimed both the second and third grade premierships.
GRAND FINAL: SURFERS PARADISE VETERAN DRAWS CURTAIN ON CAREER
— August 12
There could perhaps be no more fitting way for James Brown’s time as a Dolphin to come to an end.
Having ridden the highs and lows with the Surfers Paradise club for the past 14 years, the chance to end his career a premiership winner is beckoning.
Brown will draw the curtain on his rugby days when his beloved yellow and green army take on the Griffith Knights in Saturday’s Gold Coast District Rugby Union grand final, eager to lift the Phil Temperton Trophy and end a five-year title drought.
The 35-year-old forward helped his side clinch a qualifying final triumph over Nerang with a crucial try, and with only one game between him and the ideal finish he said the club’s rise from the doldrums to top of the podium gave him comfort in the decision.
Brown said since the Dolphins last victory in 2017 they had been rebuilding, with a host of youngsters — Tai Gordon, Noah Fielding, Lachlan and Mitch Currie and Logan and Bodie Edwards among them — starting to make their mark.
The veteran number eight said between that contingent and his own fading ability to bounce back from the rigours of first-grade football the time was clear to hang up the boots.
“The body can’t handle it anymore. I’ve been here for so long, it’s time for the young kids to have that crack,” Brown said.
“I’m just comfortable, the last two or three years it’s been playing on my mind … but I feel comfortable the club is in good hands through the juniors and the seniors.
“A lot of the junior players are coming through to the seniors and not leaving to other clubs. “They’ve all been juniors who used to run the water back in the 2009 days and now they’ve come through playing in the grand final this week.
“Those boys, they’re the heart and soul of the club and they’ll be first-graders next year, and if not the year after.
“The club is definitely in good hands, not just the playing group but the people behind the scenes and it’s good to see the club get the rewards for that.”
Brown was just 20 when he moved from New Zealand to the Glitter Strip, immediately joining the Dolphins on the back of consecutive premierships.
When a host of players then left the club on a high, a rebuilding phase ensured, culminating in two more titles from 2016-17.
Much the same happened: there was an exodus of talent, and Surfers Paradise were out to build themselves up once again, even languishing towards the bottom of the ladder as recently as last year.
Throughout it all, Brown has become embedded in the Dolphins and Gold Coast community, with his family and passion for the Dolphins clubhouse enough to keep him in the region.
For Brown and his teammates to complete yet another transformation, a Knights outfit all too familiar with grand final success in recent seasons stand before them — fresh off consecutive, unbeaten runs to the silverware.
It was Griffith who ended Surfers Paradise’s quest for three straight premierships five years ago, but Brown said that fact had not been weighing on his side’s mind.
He said his Saturday fight would be more about doing his role for the men he ran on the field alongside — the time for reflecting would come later.
“I was saying to myself this has gone quick, just so quick. If I could give any advice, like one of the young fellas, it’s just enjoy it because ‘boom’ it’s gone just like that,” Brown said.
“It’s not just for me, there’s a couple of other old boys there like our captain Tyler Meredith – he’s been with me since day one.
“Just for hanging in there, the last couple of years we got a flogging and we could’ve easily dropped down to seconds, but we hung in there and it just shows the true character of this club.
“There’s mixed emotions really. I’m definitely excited (for the grand final), but it’s not about myself it’s where the club has been. We’ve slugged it out the last couple of years and we’re here.”
The GCDRU grand final will kick off from 3.30pm at Bond Rugby Club.
NERANG VS GRIFFITH COVERAGE: KNIGHTS EARN CHANCE TO GO FOR THE THREE-PEAT
— August 7
As Knights centre Kenneth Hemopo sliced through at close range, the raptures of the crowd were indicative of what his try cemented.
Having gone down to the Nerang Bulls in all three of their matches throughout the season, Griffith Uni Colleges broke their duck when it mattered most in a 30-7 preliminary final triumph.
The win takes the red army through to the grand final once again, where rookie coach Shaun Cole will look to lead his team to a Phil Temperton Trophy three-peat.
And they will be hopeful of maintaining a surge of form throughout the finals series against a Surfers Paradise side coached by Johnny Ngauamo, who was at the Knights helm for their 2020 and 2021 Gold Coast District Rugby Union titles.
From the opening whistle it was evident neither side were going to roll over easily, with several passages of desperate goal line defence bringing the opening exchanges a true grind.
However inevitably the Knights attack began to click into gear, with Blake Griffin crossing for a first half double, bookending a brilliant procession of offloads which led to Jason Beeton scoring himself.
Nerang refused to go away at any stage, constantly thwarting an onslaught of Griffith attacking phases while threaten at times to break clear themselves.
However once wrecking ball outside centre Hemopo crossed, the mountain for the Bulls to climb had become too steep.
“Kenny is a weapon, I’ve known Kenny for a long time and played a lot of footy with Kenny,” Cole said.
“He’s a big boy but can move, you saw that try he scored there at the end – you give him a little bit of gap and he’ll power through.
“He’s got really good speed over 20-30m, he’s not going to score from 100m out but you give him a little bit of room 20m out and more often than not he’ll get through.”
Outside of the try scorers, Knights forward Kerrod Martorella proved a handful with every carry, constantly dragging defenders with him.
Martorella and his forward will need to find another gear, however, when they face a rested Dolphins outfit next week.
Surfers Paradise earned the week off after a 27-18 win over the Bulls, and skipper Tyler Meredith at the time tributed it to the foundation set by front duo Tukiterangi Raimona and Elliott Aisthorpe — a pairing Griffith will no doubt be wary of come the decider.
“It was our go forward, we were really direct when we had the ball in hands and a weapon for us was our scrimmaging,” Meredith said.
“With Elliott and Tuki setting the platform up front it made it easier to get behind them and drive them through the middle.
“Our forwards dominated and our front row was massive for us, it set a good platform for our backs.”
Griffith and Surfers Paradise will kick off for the premiership from 3.30pm at Bond.
NERANG VS GRIFFITH: COACH REVEALS INSPIRATION BEHIND TITLE PURSUIT
— AUGUST 5
They have been the conquerors of the Knights all season, the side who two years ago ended their premiership quest at the final hurdle.
But while Nerang have emerged from their 2022 Griffith battles with only success, coach John-Henry Maniapoto has declared Saturday’s clash takes them to square one.
The Bulls will head into the Preliminary Final clash with the Knights on the back of a 27-18 defeat at the hands of Surfers Paradise.
It continued something of a love triangle between the top three, with Nerang cleansweeping the Knights, Griffith taking down the Dolphins, and Surfers Paradise claiming the chocolates against the Bulls.
But despite the run of form, the recent history of the Knights and their back-to-back premierships has Maniapoto on alert.
Maniapoto said it was witnessing how the Knights plotted their course to a period of dominance that illustrated where they needed to improve to reach the top of the podium.
He said the fact their forthcoming rivals were the ones that inspired them to new heights, it made their own 2022 success against the defending champions a distant memory — this week was “just another Saturday”.
“They’ve been the team that set the bar high really for the Gold Coast, so they’re not going to take anything lying down. It’s going to be a hard match,” Maniapoto said.
“They’re a good team, they’re the team who set the benchmark and we have to make sure we’re up for the challenge.
“Everyone wants to be like a team like the Melbourne Storm because they’re a leading team. “It’s the same thing in community sport; when you have your strong clubs we had to lift ourselves up to a level that’s competitive.”
Since Nerang made their return to the first-grade competition in 2019 the club have been on the cusp of a title for three straight seasons.
Twice in that time they have fallen at the same hurdle they find themselves at now, while in 2020 they were beaten in the decider by Griffith.
Maniapoto said the make up of his line up for the do-or-die challenge was yet to be determined, as a host of players await final words from health professionals.
Regardless of who takes the field, he said lifting the Phil Temperton Trophy would spark elation within the Nerang walls, having come so close to tasting the same victories they did in the 1990s.
“I think like any club when you win it all of a sudden you get a lot of interest in the club, a lot of people signing up and it’s a good boost for community sport in Nerang,” he said.
“It gives back to community sport in general really.”
The match between Nerang and Griffith will kick off from 3.30pm at Bulls Rugby Club, with the clash to be live blogged here.
ELIMINATION FINAL: KNIGHTS SKIPPER LABELLED ‘BEST EVER’ AS THREE-PEAT QUEST LIVES ON
— August 1
High praise was reserved for a man labelled “the best ever player at this club” as Griffith began to plot a takedown of their 2022 arch nemesis.
The Knights emerged from their elimination final battle against Bond Pirates with a commanding 31-3 triumph on Sunday, keeping their hopes of three-straight Gold Coast District Rugby Union titles alive.
On the back of three seasons in which they won 46 of 47 contests, Griffith have needed to battle at times this year as the likes of Nerang and Surfers Paradise forced the defending champions into do-or-die finals football.
However with a host of key men returning from injury in the back end of the campaign, Knights coach Shaun Cole declared his side were peaking at the perfect time.
And they would need to be, with a Qualifying Final battle against the Bulls this Saturday — the only team they are yet to defeat this season — looming as their biggest test yet.
“We’re full strength now so that’s only going to benefit us with (forward) Harrison Cumming back, Doddy (halfback Cameron Dodd) back, Jason Beaton as well at fullback,” Cole said.
“We’re full strength so there’s no excuses next week. Harrison had a bit of an ankle injury Doddy a groin and Beaton has slowly come back this season from a hamstring and knee injury.
“Now they’re all 100 per cent and ready to go, hopefully we get Connor Kennedy back next week so we’ll be firing. We’re peaking at the right time for sure.
“Some boys who have probably been taking a while to warm into the season with it being a bit stop and start really stood up: Harrison Cumming, Kadison Graham. Kenneth Hamopo – they were phenomenal (against Bond).
“The boys are geed up for this one, they’re really keen to rip in against Nerang and I think it’s going to be a really tight contest.”
The opening 20 minutes of Sunday’s clash had shades of the Round 1 match up between Griffith and Bond. On that day only one-point separated the two sides as both forward packs went head to head in an enthralling spectacle.
On this occasion, however, all the Knights needed were a sniff and they had the arsenal to mount a counterattack.
After conceding the opening points through a penalty goal, Cole’s unit found their feet on the back of a typical captain’s knock from Jaye Paton.
The Griffith veteran earned himself the biggest cheer of the afternoon when he strolled over from close range to score the try that would all but end any hopes of a Pirates fightback.
However it was the way in which he rallied his troops and led from the front in defence as Bond threatened to strike that set the tone for the last hour of play, as his fellow forwards Cummings and Lesi Tawake began to make huge inroads off the back of it all.
“Every week you could give him man of the match. In any game he plays — whether it’s rep level – he’s just a machine,” Cole said.
“He’s arguably the best ever player at this club so a huge wraps of Jaye.
“You knew after beating Nerang they (Bond) were going to come out firing and so they should too – knocking off Nerang is something we haven’t been able to do.
“They were pumped up, but it was nice to see the boys weather the storm.”
QUALIFYING FINAL: DOLPHINS YOUNG GUN STEPS UP IN HEATED BATTLE
— July 31
Surfers Paradise captain Tyler Meredith has featured in some of the finest teams to don the Dolphins colours, and he said the unit of 2022 had an eerily familiar feel to it.
As their finals rivals battle for a spot just to take them on, Meredith and his teammates will have an extra week to plot their final mission in claiming the Gold Coast District Rugby Union title.
The Dolphins battled to a 27-18 Qualifying Final triumph over the Nerang Bulls on Saturday, cementing their own place in the decider on the back of lifting the minor premiership silverware.
It took a try in the 80th minute to Surfers Paradise flanker Alex Behns to lock in the victory, after the two heavyweights traded blows for much of the first-half.
A delicate mix in the squad of experienced men returning to the club and emerging talents had paved the way for their successful efforts in 2022, efforts which have put them on the cusp of their first Phil Temperton Trophy since 2017.
While for the most part the Dolphins opted for their more battle-hardened troops, Tai Gordon was a noticeable exception.
The Gold Coast Cyclones Colts star made his first-grade starting debut last week in the emphatic win over the Eagles, having come off the bench on two other occasions this year.
A dominant playmaker in the under-19s, Gordon has come into his new role late in the season. But the teenager’s finals debut left Dolphins skipper Tyler Meredith impressed by the way he took on the challenge.
“He handled it quite well, for a guy who doesn’t talk a lot come finals he steps into his own skin a bit and was a lot more vocal out there,” Meredith said.
“He’s a really good fullback, I’ve seen him play both and he’s confident in both. But wherever we put him we know he’ll do a good job for us, we can slot him in and we know he’ll step up.
“For a young kid he’s definitely impressed. He’s got a lot of skill and ability and the longer he plays the better he’ll get.
“In the last few years we’ve had a really young team come up through the juniors, so those boys have a few more years under their belts in senior footy.”
While it was the Dolphins who opened the scoring, the Bulls were quick to counter through winger Logan Watene, as the boot of Nerang fly-half and sharp shooter Jesse Leituvae kept the sides deadlocked at 10-10 in the shadows of halftime.
A try on the stroke of the main break to James Brown gave Surfers the momentum, and while Nerang retook the lead courtesy of a penalty goal and try to Aaron Cook, the dominance of the Dolphins forward pack forced themselves ahead in quick time.
For Meredith, who has been a member of the club since he was a kid, there was a familiar sense around the group, one which rivalled that of the teams he played in three straight grand finals with from 2016-2018.
In that time Surfers emerged on top twice, and with a week off to lick their wounds and await who they will face in the decider, Meredith said there would be no fear for whoever they would take on.
“It does have a similar feel (to those premiership teams). The feel around the club and the attitude of the players is definitely up there with those successful teams,” he said.
“Compared to the last few years, we were kind of just showing up and doing the best we could, but I think this year there’s a more relaxed attitude but at the same time everyone knows once we’re on the field we have that belief in our abilities to beat anyone.”
All Black’s impact on Dolphins revealed ahead of Bulls battle
— July 29
Surfers Paradise flanker Alex Behns says he and his teammates were surprised upon learning they had secured the minor premiership.
But ultimately he said nobody would remember who emerged on top at the end of the regular season — they would only recall who lifted the Phil Temperton Trophy.
The Dolphins’ emphatic 57-7 triumph over the Eagles last week was enough to lift them over the top of Griffith Knights and a Nerang Bulls outfit who were shocked by Bond on the eve of finals.
Claiming the first piece of silverware for the year had never been a focal point for Surfers Paradise, according to Behns, who said a pair of international recruits on and off the field had proven pivotal in keeping the team’s focus on the next job in front of them.
Head coach and former Tonga international Johnny Ngauamo joined the club this year, bringing with him back-to-back titles with the Knights, while five-time All Blacks halfback Alby Matthewson has settled in the region and steered the Paradise ship.
Behns said the duo had been at the heart of a refreshing surge for the Dolphins in 2022, particularly as the likes of past stalwarts Dallin and Diaz Sharrock returned to help pilot a push for the Gold Coast District Rugby Union title.
As he prepared to take on Nerang once again for a spot in the grand final, he said having the chance to feed off a man of Matthewson’s calibre had been a revelation for the Surfers’ pack.
“Alby is a really humble guy, he has brought a sense of professionalism and a high standard that he expects of all of us which brings out the best in us as football players,” Behns said.
“His direction on the field is second to none, he was an international player so just to receive the ball off someone like him is something not many people can say they’ve achieved in their lifetime.
“Off the back of that there’s a fair few older heads that have come back as well in terms of guys who played some time ago for the club who have made a bit of return.
“It gives the guys a bit of confidence with the older heads, but at the same time we’ve got a lot of young new guys who have stepped up as well.”
The Dolphins will welcome back a host of players who have been battling injuries throughout the year, among which include the prop combination of Elliott Aisthorpe and Tukierangi Raimona.
Prior to the final round of the season, Surfers Paradise had been the only team to take down the Bulls in a series of palpable affairs.
And Behns, who will face off with the likes of Gold Coast Cyclones flanker Tom Coombs, expects that intense to hit new heights with a place in the decider on the line.
“It definitely does (get more intense),” he said.
“Tommy is obviously a good player, he’s definitely a competitor. For me it’s not an opposite number, for me personally it’s bringing a sense of physicality and energy to the game and basically do the best for my team.
“He’s obviously one of their leaders on the field and he’s a good player, so we will have to make sure we’re on the ball in terms of our cleaning out in attack to ensure he doesn’t get his hands on the ball.
“To be told after the game (last week) we’d actually finished as minor premiers definitely took us by surprise. However that being said no one remembers the minor premiers, they only remember they guys who took out the championship.”
The Dolphins and Bulls will kick off from 4pm at Coomera, while Bond and Griffith will clash in the elimination final on Sunday at the same time.
‘We can beat anyone’: Dark horse sends out ominous finals warning
— July 25
A comeback nearly two months in the making has proven the catalyst for Bond’s shock win over Nerang, and captain Brad Plant believes it could be the start of a finals boilover.
Gold Coast Cyclones flyer Damien Timms returned at fullback for the Pirates on Saturday, overcoming a rib injury to star in a 14-5 triumph on the eve of semi-finals.
The veteran of more than 100 games with the club proved clinical with each kick return, paving the way for the men up front to lay a platform to wear Nerang down.
Plant proved to be the final beneficiary of that foundation, crossing for what proved to be the game-sealing try.
Bond’s victory ensured the Bulls missed out on the minor premiership, with a brutal 57-7 win for Surfers Paradise over Gold Coast Eagles enabling the Dolphins to clinch that honour.
And while the Pirates will now face two-time defending champions, the Griffith Uni Colleges Knights, in the knockout final, Plant said his side could take down whoever was put in front of them.
While there has been a wide points gap between the top three outfits and the Pirates throughout the campaign, Plant said that with a full strength team back on deck there was no reason why they could not cause a serious premiership shock.
“The games we’ve lost have only been by a couple of points, it’s finishing games off that we’ve been missing,” Plant said.
“We just wanted to start playing some decent footy, and with everyone back on board it’s starting to click. We can beat anyone on our day.”
Plant expects to the same squad that got the job done against Nerang will take the field for the clash against the Knights, with star outside back Ethan Lolesio unlikely to be fit enough line up.
Able to play at fullback, fly-half and the centres, the brother of Wallabies weapon Noah Lolesio provides a point of difference in attack at his best, however a long-term hamstring injuries has kept him on the sidelines since Round Four.
But with the likes of former Niue international Lepau Feau and Timms back on deck, Plant is confident there is enough attacking spark in the Pirates arsenal to cause some damage on he back of some young guns peaking at the perfect time in first-grade.
Throughout the year the likes of Queensland Country colts representative Fletcher Bleakley and Jack Sampson have made an impact at various stages, however Plant reserved his highest praise for another rookie among the forward pack.
Cyclones and South Queensland Colts captain Mitchell McGreevy has become a recognisable figure in the Bond engine room, both for his wild hair and powerful carries with the ball.
The teenager was considered an unlucky omission from the Queensland Country side by Cyclones and Knights coach Shaun Cole, and Plant said he and his fellow rising stars had the talent to become the future faces of the Pirates efforts.
“He’s just a tough kid. He’s relentless, he’s got a big engine and doesn’t stop,” he said.
“He’s just clinical, the carries he does are tough and he puts his hand up to do the stuff no one else wants to.
“He was unreal. We’ve had a couple of young guys debut … they’re part of the team now, they’re it.”
The Pirates and Knights will clash in the elimination final at Bond Rugby Club on Saturday, while Nerang and Surfers Paradise will battle at Coomera for a spot in the decider.
The pre-season torture behind flyer’s huge season
— July 18
It took one of the most gruelling pre-season’s Nerang has undergone to emerge as the front runners of Gold Coast rugby, and with that came the best of a key recruit out wide.
Former Helensvale Hogs flyer Logan Watene made the switch to the Bulls this season, opening his account with a hat-trick in the opening round.
Such a feat was bound to be repeated based on the work he put in prior to the first kick off, and he did just that on Saturday in a 29-17 triumph over Griffith.
The victory marked a cleansweep for the Bulls over the two-time defending champions, as they put themselves on the cusp of the minor premiership heading into the final round.
Nerang coach John-Henry Maniapoto said Watene’s efforts on the weekend were more than simply finishing off backline movements, with his first try in particular a dazzling individual effort from within his own off on a kick return.
And he said these sort of performances from the talented flyer had been building since his impressive exploits on the training paddock under the intense strength and conditioning regimen of Bulls old boy Glen Gamlin.
“I was really impressed with him in the pre-season, he trained really hard and sort of from there I decided to give him a crack,” Maniapoto said.
“We had a bit of a killer pre-season with our trainer, anyone who can sort of come through and keep doing the hard work he did you always put a tick against their name.
“It was pretty brutal training. With Glen’s program there’s a lot of strength, a lot of sprinting, a lot of competitiveness and really working on our core fitness.
“The program we’d worked on is basically designed to get us through a lot of tough times and just really making sure we can make good decisions as we get fatigued.
“He (Watene) has played some really good games, but for some reason the Knights seem to bring the best out of him. He played really well, he’s a big strong guy and he uses his size and strength … and he just got involved off the wing which is really important.”
The victory also celebrated Nerang fullback Will Bird’s maiden Queensland Country senior selection, on the back of dominant campaigns at both the Queensland and South Queensland championships.
Bird’s form has been crucial to the Bulls success this year, however a loss of more than four points next week to Bond Pirates could still lose them the minor premiership.
Maniapoto said there would be no room for respite even with only one round remaining until finals, as he plots one final win to cement their status as competition favourites.
“Our season is not over yet, we’ve got next week and then we’ve got to treat Bond Pirates with that respect,” he said.
“(But for Bird) we’re all very proud of him, that’s obviously a very high honour. To have our little club there at that stage, at that arena, it’s really good for Will.”
1. NERANG BULLS — 7 WINS, 2 DRAWS, 2 LOSSES. 124 +/-, 38 POINTS
Slowly but surely throughout more recent seasons the Nerang Bulls have been building towards something special. Now the season is theirs to lose. The Bulls have established themselves as the new heavyweights of the competition, having defeat the two-time defending champions the Griffith Knights three times this year. Given no other side has managed to take them down since the 2019 grand final, and yet Nerang have done so on three occasions, speaks volumes to where this side is headed. Crucial, coach Maniapoto has made it his mission to ensure his troops do not get ahead of themselves, and treat every clash as a make or break moment in their season. As the only team in the region to boast South Queensland representatives — Will Bird and Josh Edmond — Nerang have boasted a formidable attack all year.
Key Player: Will Bird
The only man from the Gold Coast to make the Queensland Country team, so it is no surprise that Will Bird looms as the man to inspire a premiership at Nerang. The fullback has been at his attacking best all year, scoring tries at will and terrorising rival defences with his elusive carries. Equipped with the ability to break a game apart with one play, Bird is positioned to be the most dangerous player in the finals series.
Final Game v Bond Pirates
Maniapoto made it clear after his side’s recent win over the Knights that they would be treating their final round clash as a do-or-die battle. Should they lapse and fall to the Pirates this weekend by more than four points they will surrender the minor premiership to Griffith, and with that lose a home contest in the first week of the finals.
2. GRIFFITH UNI COLLEGES KNIGHTS — 7 WINS, 2 DRAWS, 3 LOSSES, +/- 120, 37 POINTS
They are still very much firmly in title contention, and have been battling for the top of the table honours all season as they typically do. However the Griffith Knights have been forced to taste defeat for the first time in more than two years in 2022, as Nerang emerged to be a genuine powerhouse. Rookie coach Shaun Cole has been forced to deal with a tirade of injuries, and his mid-season recruitment of former Knight Edward Beinstein could prove a calculated move for the business end of the season. At times they have still looked clinical, at others their defence has been near unbreakable. Their only blemish has been an inability to take down the Bulls, but all they need to do is do it once.
Key Player: Cameron Dodd
Heralded as the most underrated player in the competition by his coach, Cameron Dodd’s leadership and influence at the breakdown could make or break the campaign for Griffith. His service has been clean and crisp for the entire season, but it is the way he communicates with his forwards that perhaps separates him the most from his rival halfbacks. How Dodd dictates the ruck will provide the Knights with the ‘one-percenters” needed to edge ahead in close contests.
Final Game v Bye
The Knights have now done all they can to give themselves the chance for three-straight titles. Whether or not they can steal the minor premiership once again will be dependent on other results, but none the less they will remain a true threat to the premiership.
3. SURFERS PARADISE DOLPHINS — 7 WINS, 1 DRAW, 3 LOSSES, +/- 109, 34 POINTS
While Nerang may be the only team to beat the Knights this year, Surfers Paradise have been the sole outfit to take down the Bulls. And they have done so twice, paving the way for the Dolphins to be the dark horse of the premiership race. With former Griffith championship winning mentor Johnny Ngauamo taking the reigns, Surfers have showcased genuine strength in contested rucks and scrums, with master courses from the likes of Australian scrum coach Petrus du Plessis improving their resolve and techniques. At times the Dolphins attack has looked arguably the best in the competition, however at others they have lacked the same punch and will be determined to find greater consistency come finals.
Key Player: Alby Matthewson
A former All Black in the Dolphins ranks was always going to draw the eye, and Alby Matthewson’s inclusion has been pivotal to his side’s cause. Matthewson’s service and class have been on show each time Surfers Paradise have clicked into gear, however for the Dolphins to be true premiership contenders they will need to find more ways to fire without the number nine’s influence.
Final Game v Gold Coast Eagles
Based on how the Eagles have gone in 2022, this final round clash could be the Dolphins chance to truly flex their muscles and send a warning message to the rest in the finals hunt. However should they come against a pluckier Eagles outfit than expect, it could serve as a damaging blow to their confidence and paint a bleak picture for how their post-season exploits pan out. Even with their finals spot locked in, the Dolphins will be sure to approach this with a sudden death mentality.
4. BOND PIRATES — 2 WINS, 1 DRAW, 8 LOSSES, +/- -77, 14 POINTS
A season that offered plenty of promise has never quite eventuated for the Bond Pirates, but nevertheless they will still be a feature of the 2022 finals series. What has been pleasing for the developing side is that rarely have they been blown off the park, constantly in the fight until some wayward passages of play ended their pursuit of victory. At full strength there is enough attacking spark to threaten defences, however come finals they will need to find greater discipline in defence to withstand the outfits ahead of them.
Key Player: Lepau Feau
Enigmatic and instinctive, Lepau Feau could be the x-factor that enables Bond to secure a finals boilover. Voted among the state’s top five players by NewsCorp readers, Feau has shifted between fly-half, fullback and the centres this year and with each hit out has proven to be the linchpin of the Pirates attack. Regardless of where he lines up, all Feau needs is for his forward pack to lay a strong platform and his sharp instep and strong running game at the line will come to the fore.
Final Game v Nerang Bulls
This final test before the finals could signal Bond as a shock threat to the title. While they will need to overcome the current ladder leaders to carry momentum into the sudden death clash ahead of them, the Pirates went within a converted try of the Bulls when they last faced off, and they should take plenty of confidence out of that.
5. GOLD COAST EAGLES — 1 WIN, 2 DRAWS, 8 LOSSES, +/- -276, 8 POINTS
Just the one win heading into the final round for the Eagles, however truth be told they have been up against it when it comes to consistency on the field. A combination of wet weather calling games off and breaks over the representative weekends meant that often the Gold Coast outfit went weeks without taking the field, making building combinations between the players and all the more trying task. Far from the season the Eagles would have wanted, however there were still some bright spots to emerge. Gold Coast Cyclones Colts representative Xavier Collins found his feet in first-grade rugby, as did former schoolboys gun Tyler Wright, while winger turned fullback Brad Gordon at one stage went of a four-game try scoring streak.
Key Player: Xavier Collins
He may be young, but Xavier Collins is part of an impressive Colts contingent coming through the ranks who need to be continuously engaged. The strong running number eight has been impressive on the representative stage, and within an under-19s competition on the Gold Coast he has been required to punch well above his weight throughout the year. He has done so bravely, and given the plight of forwards on the Glitter Strip — which ultimately resulted in three teams bowing out of the Phil Temperton Trophy — Collins highlights the need to keep players of his age group developing towards their goals.
Final Game vs Surfers Paradise Dolphins
The Eagles last round clash will be the chance to end the season on a high and prove they have plenty to look forward to in 2023. The Dolphins blew them off the park by 57 points when the two teams last challenged each other, and the Eagles will be determined to overturn that.
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