IN PHOTOS: Top 5 players from Mudgeeraba v Runaway Bay triple-header
The Bulletin trawled over the tape from three brilliant games between the Redbacks and Seagulls to compile a list of the five best performers. SUBSCRIBE NOW $1 A WEEK FOR 12 WEEKS.
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The Bulletin trawled over the tape from three brilliant games between the Redbacks and Seagulls to compile a list of the five best performers from Sunday's opening round at Firth Park. In no particular order they are ...
Zane Lothian
The Runaway Bay U18s rake pulled all the strings for the Seagulls in their big win against the Redbacks and was justly rewarded with a try of his own in the second half.
Five-eighth Casey Harding was the main architect in the first half, before Lothian engineered most of the Seagulls’ attacking raids in the dominant second period.
Liam Talbot
Easily best afield in the U18 Seagulls’ 42-6 rout of the Redbacks.
Talbot crossed for two tries and set up more with his incredible burst of speed.
He set up the play of the afternoon from deep in defence, taking the kick-off and racing through the line to midfield that ended in a spectacular Runaway Bay try.
Thomas Tapu
It was the devastating run that signalled Mudgeeraba would not lay down as Runaway Bay threatened to take control of the Reserve Grade clash at Firth Park.
Tapu received from dummy- half and drove through three tacklers to find the line (pictured).
That try got the Redbacks to within striking distance, before Jordan Morrison’s late score sealed the comeback win.
Harrison Muller
Death, taxes and Harrison Muller.
When Runaway Bay needed a spark in the back-and-forth A-Grade clash with Mudgeeraba, it was the big man who made it happen.
What looked a simple crash play at the line for Muller was anything but, with the ‘should-be’ ISC player taking the pass above his head before re-angling to get low between legs and score.
Queille Murray
His coach rates him as the best winger in the competition and on Sunday it was easy to see why.
Murray scored Bay’s second try but it was the score he set up that showed his true potential.
The Aussie rules convert flew high to take a cross-field kick above the Redbacks defenders, before a turn of speed and then flick pass outside for Jamie Anderson to score. Brilliant!
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Jordan Press (Mudgeeraba A-Grade), Casey Harding (Runaway Bay U18s), Jordan Morrison (Mudgeeraba Reserve Grade).
EARLIER: Seagulls, Redbacks in thriller to close out Round 1
QUEILLE Murray was at his athletic best to help the reigning premiers begin their title defence on the perfect note on Sunday.
The winger scored Runaway Bay’s second try and set up the first after halftime in the 32-22 win at Firth Park.
The Redbacks burst out of the blocks through winger Jordan Press, scoring inside the first two minutes.
Runaway Bay responded minutes later to square the ledger before Press was again off to the races to restore the Redbacks’ advantage.
Murray’s first try was a stroll over the line after some good shifting play from the Seagulls, before man mountain Harrison Muller crashed over under the posts to give the visitors a six-point lead at halftime.
A back-and-forth second half ensued, with Murray’s incredible leaping effort to assist a Jamie Anderson try the pick of the action.
Former Burleigh ISC fullback Henare Wells flashed his brilliance on debut for the Redbacks and scored a late try, but Runaway Bay had too many answers in the second half.
A-GRADE
Runaway Bay 32 (Q. Murray, J. Wedderburn-Parrish, H. Muller, J. Latenacolo, J. Anderson, M. Whitton tries; 4/7 goals) def. Mudgeeraba 22 (J. Press 2, D. Dayberg-Muir, H. Wells tries; 3/4 goals)
Morrison’s match-winner for Mudgee
A 12-man Mudgeeraba produced a stunning final 10 minutes to seal a come-from-behind win over Runaway Bay in Reserve Grade.
Jordan Morrison was the worthy hero in the 22-18 win, crossing under the posts with minutes remaining for the perfect start to the season.
The match was played predominantly through the middle, and both sides wasted guilt-edged opportunities in the second half.
When Redbacks prop Thomas Isa’ako was sent to the sin bin it looked like Runaway Bay was destined for victory, leading 18-16 and with momentum.
Instead the sending off seemed to spark the hosts, who dominated possession for the final 10 minutes – culminating in Morrison’s matchwinner.
RESERVE GRADE
Mudgeeraba 22 (H. Grieve, H. Garrett, T. Tapu, J. Morrison tries; 3/4 goals) def. Runaway Bay 18 (J. Gillet-Gow, K. Loango-Manning, P. Williams tries; 3/3 goals)
Talbot terrific in Bay’s U18s rout
A double from winger Liam Talbot was the catalyst for Runaway Bay’s 42-6 drubbing of Mudgeeraba in the Under-18 Division 1.
Talbot scored the opener in both the first and second half, as the Seagulls piled on the pain.
The winger was also instrumental in the best play of the day – in any grade – as his return from the kick-off set-up a fantastic length of the field try for the Seagulls.
Five-eight Casey Harding also caught the eye with a try and assist of his own, before taking a back seat to the playmaking duties in the second half once the match was over.
U18 DIVISION 1
Runaway Bay 42 (L. Talbot 2, C. Harding, T. Gilbert, C.Brose, Z. Lothian, J. Mckenzie, K. Newton-Whare tries; 5/8 goals) def. Mudgeeraba 6 (F. Bruggy try; 1/1 goals)
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