Sun Bowl XXXVI: Gold Coast Stingrays
The Gold Coast Stingrays are building a dynasty as the home of Queensland’s top emerging gridiron talent, winning both the Colts Under-19s and Juniors Under-16s Sun Bowls.
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The Gold Coast Stingrays have built upon their reputation as Queensland’s grandest gridiron nursery with a championship double in the junior under-16 and colts under-19s divisions.
The Stingrays are building dynasties in both divisions but especially the Under-19s with a sixth straight title in that division.
Quarterback and head coach Damien Molloy shone in the Sun Bowl XXXVI senior men’s final but could not inspire his side to an upset victory.
Read below for the Bulletin’s live coverage of the Stingrays’ grand final day.
SENIOR MEN
THE heroics of veteran quarterback Damien Molloy were not enough to inspire the Gold Coast Stingrays to the Sun Bowl upset many suspected was impossible at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Molloy returned from the ankle sprain that ruled him out of last week’s match to bulldoze, hurdle and pass for all three of the Stingrays touchdowns in the rain and mud, even drawing within two points of the powerhouse Bayside Ravens in the second quarter.
The Stingrays defense had no answers for the class of Australian representatives Jared Stegman at quarterback and running back Darius Holliday-Miller, who led the defending champions to a comfortable 43-18 victory to go back-to-back in the division.
The defeat will extend the Gold Coast’s club’s title drought to three seasons, their longest stint without a Sun Bowl victory since 2006.
Molloy has played in almost every season since that mark and brought nothing less than a herculean effort to the gridiron.
When the Stingrays running game faltered, Molloy tucked the ball under his arm to carry his team upfield through sheer force of will, earning the Sun Bowl’s MVP honour from the losing side.
His two long range passing touchdowns to wide receiver Will Roebuck in the second quarter were a shot of hope that the team could do the unthinkable.
Molloy even appeared on the defensive side of the ball, recording several heavy-handed tackles.
“Man, I love these guys right here,” the team captain and head coach said post-match.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this bunch of men. They understand what it took to even get to this game.
“Two weeks before the season we only had 14 guys. To be able to then come into a game like this and compete with the standard of the league over the last two years is a testament to the coaches that I’ve got and the guys who have been there.
“They came in, they bought in, they wanted it. They’ve got a taste now.”
Molloy accepted his bittersweet MVP trophy with good grace.
“I appreciate this, thank you very much.
“This is massive for me, I love competing against these guys.
“It feels a little hollow because we didn’t win but I do appreciate the support from everyone who voted.”
COLTS UNDER-19S
UNHERALDED Stingrays wide receiver Flynn Groth exploded for four touchdown catches to help his side defeat the Brisbane Rhinos 46-6 in the Colts Under-19s Sun Bowl.
The victory was the Stingrays’ sixth-straight in the division, the longest active winning streak in Queensland's Colts history.
Groth also ran in a fifth touchdown catch, which was overturned after an illegal block in the back helped spring him free of the defence.
Sun Bowl MVP and quarterback Noah Hull tossed six touchdowns in total across the state final, with additional scores to Australian Outbacks under-20s receiver Aidan Dobosch and Jayden O’Rourke.
Dobosch also ran in a touchdown from a kick-off return to notch his 11th score of the season.
Nose tackle Brigham Alofipo led a super-sized Stingrays defensive line which held the Rhinos to zero points after conceding an early touchdown, while Christian Denton was a constant presence from sideline to sideline.
“Thanks to the Rhinos for coming out today,” coach Colt Isham said.
“Thanks to our players, thanks to the fans, just thank you Gridiron Queensland for putting on the season.
“It was hard with Corona happening and all that but we still managed to get it on and give the kids a season, give them something to do and something to look forward to.
“Now we just have next year to look forward to and just build on that.”
JUNIORS UNDER-16S
The Gold Coast Stingrays are building a dynasty as the home of Queensland’s top emerging gridiron talent, defending their 2019 Sun Bowl victory in the Juniors Under-16s with another win in the division’s title game.
Pass-rusher Dan Bolton was named Sun Bowl MVP for the constant pressure he brought to disrupt the Logan City Bears with multiple sacks, including a critical sack late in the fourth quarter.
“Obviously it wasn’t our best performance on the field but in the end a win is a win,” rookie head coach Connor Brewster said.
“Especially on defense, our defensive line really sorted out what they were doing.
“So much work, for so many weeks, I’m a bit speechless. It’s unreal.”
Quarterback Taj Bordon led the offense on the ground with his own running game to keep the chains moving.
His third-quarter rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak proved the matchwinner, 28-12.
The Stingrays were fortunate to emerge with the result after three second-half turnovers threatened to let the Bears back into the game.
A turnover of their own, recovering a fumbled punt in the Bears’ redzone, led to Bordon’s touchdown.
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