Biggest win in 30 years: The day Helensvale Hornets came of age
FAR removed from the hype of Israel Folau’s Southport Tigers debut, Helensvale has celebrated the most significant win in the club’s 30-year history. READ THE STORY
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FAR removed from the hype of Israel Folau’s Southport Tigers debut, Helensvale Hornets have celebrated the most significant win in the club’s 30-year history after an incredible boilover against top-of-the-table Burleigh.
The Hornets were winless leading in to the round 9 RLGC A Grade clash with the Bears but shocked the Gold Coast rugby league community by prevailing 30-20 for their first senior A Grade victory since earning promotion to the top grade this year
Burleigh were understrength with some of A Grade’s top performers summoned to replace unavailable Gold Coast Titans players in the Intrust Super Cup but nothing could dull the Hornets’ shine on a night the club celebrated its 30th birthday.
“It was massive,” proud club president Wayne Court said.
“The boys said in the last 20 minutes of the game they could barely hear each other communicating on the field because of the crowd cheering them on.
“Burleigh were up 12-0 on us early and at that stage they probably thought they’d run over us but we steadied the ship and got back in the game.”
Rising star fullback Brent Barnes crossed for two tries while centre Jordan Birch also impressed as Helensvale engineered a 30-point comeback to shock the visiting Bears.
Burleigh only got within 10 points of Helensvale when a reckless line dropout gifted back possession 10 metres from the tryline, resulting in a simple consolation try.
Court said Burleigh’s selection headaches hadn’t dampened the club’s celebrations.
“Not at all,” he said.
“They’re usually always advantaged compared to every other club so this was just playing against a normal A Grade side.
“They still had the likes of Guy Hamilton and Reece Sumner.
“This was a very strong performance from our boys.”
At Tugun, the Seahawks took top spot on the ladder after defeating rivals Currumbin 34-22 in the southern derby.
Halfback Michael Burgess scored two tries while halves partner and Gold Coast’s leading pointscorer Tahne Robinson converted five.
Losses to Burleigh and Runaway Bay have forged a two competition-point buffer atop the table for Tugun with Currumbin holding fourth, ahead of Southport on points differential alone.
BEARS’ LATE TRY BURIES TWEED IN DERBY
FORMER Canberra Raider Andre Niko delivered the killer blow in the battle for the Gold Coast, scoring a 75th- minute match-winner to defeat Tweed 28-22 in the Intrust Super Cup at Pizzey Park in Miami.
Tweed led 12-0 until an injury to Burleigh playmaker Conner Toia brought former A Grade hero Shallin Fuller into the fray.
Fuller created three tries to help level the game for Niko’s late score.
Tweed skipper Lamar Liolevave said although the loss of Titans players Jayden Campbell and Toby Sexton among others hurt his side, tight contests with Burleigh were good for footy in the region.
“It was definitely a level game and we were just unlucky after being in control for most of the game,” he said.
“A lot of us, even though we have the rivalry, we grew up playing with and against each other.
“It really pushes us all to try and reach that next level.”
’Reckless’ players to blame for Titans’ defensive woes: Holbrook
THE “reckless” Gold Coast Titans are on track to record their worst defensive season ever, but coach Justin Holbrook believes the team has found its solution, on the eve of a Canberra clash that could knock the club out of the top eight race.
The bye round has finally afforded the Titans a chance to reset a defence conceding 29 points per game, worse even than the 27 point per game mark of 2016’s wooden spoon season.
Without the pressure of preparing for an opposition the coaching staff has nailed down on the critical errors and “flustered” approach to defending that has seen the team win one from its last six.
“What you’ve got to realise is when you play every single week you’re only really getting two sessions in,” Holbrook said.
“They’ve got to recover and then you’re coming up against another quality opposition.
“When you have to chop and change your side a bit that makes it hard because you don’t have a lot of time.
“What’s unfolded lately, no one is happy with it, so we’re all trying to solve it ourselves.
“We’ve had a number of guys make reckless decisions while doing their best for the team but unfortunately it wasn’t helping.
“It’s really important we not get too flustered in our own heads and make reckless decisions (because) that’s the way we’re going to turn it around.
“We’re not going to rely on one big play to turn it around, it’s about weathering the storm when it’s not going our way and take advantage of it if it is.”
Holbrook let his frustration at the NRL’s new rules slip before chastising himself for being “a bit harsh.”
“No one likes it, collectively as a game, when extra rules change and how fast it’s got,” he said.
“There’s no more plays in the game because there’s just more points scored.
“It’s about adapting to how long you can go without the ball.
“We’ve got to keep working hard and find ways to switch that momentum before it’s too late.”
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