By his own admission, coach Stuart Wilkins has pieced together a side “from scratch”, after the team withdrew from last year’s A-grade competition.

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However edge forwards Coen Rankmore and Brock Priestley have both come through the Ormeau ranks, and have become the faces of what the Shearers hope to achieve beyond 2022.

The pair starred in their unit’s 28-14 triumph over Helensvale on Saturday, with Rankmore crossing for a crucial try in the process.

Wilkins said that without access to affiliated Queensland Cup players, much of the campaign would be focused on educating the emerging generation on what it took to success in elite rugby league.

But he said the presence of Rankmore and Priestley as regular figures in the top tier had created a buzz on and off the field, and whenever they took the field together there was a noticeable lift.

“They’re going exceptionally well, when Brock and Coen play together over the last couple of weeks we’ve lifted again. They’re bringing some synergy and energy to the side; they’re only young, but they’re both really good footballers,” Wilkins said.

“He (Rankmore) has been one of our best week in and week out, and bringing Brock in as well has been really good.

“I’ve got a side that we’ve had to put together from scratch, so they haven’t played together before and it’s been such a disruptive season – we’ve not trained for four weeks on the field.

“It’s been horrid to be honest, and it’s no one’s fault but the weather. But I think we’re improving and you have to start thinking longer term, and that’s what we’re starting to do. “We’re looking at keeping the cohesion and core group together, and hopefully bringing in some new players and building a culture around the club.”

Aside from their poor display against Mudgeeraba, the Shearers have shown plenty of fight throughout the season — at times going toe-to-toe with the likes of Burleigh, Tugun and Runaway Bay.

Where Wilkins sees a need for greater depth is through the front row, with many of his options young men still being shown the ropes by the coach, as well as hooker and NRL champion Issac Luke.

While Wilkins said he was still searching for a consistent 80 minute performance from his team, his forward pack leader in James Tutuila has been a pillar of stability.

In the win over the Hornets the prop regularly took several defenders to take down, and his presence seemed to compose his rookie front row partner in Tepa Arokapiti — who scored in just his second run-on start.

Now Wilkins said it was a matter of easing Tutuila’s burden, despite the fact he currently sits second on the competition’s tryscorers list.

“He’s a greedy hog who just wants to score every time he gets anywhere near the try line,” Wilkins said with a laugh.

“He’s been really good for us, but unfortunately he’s had to do a lot of the work with the rotation of him and the other forwards. We lost Siuatonga Likiliki, he’s one of our big players and he’s got a hammy issue and will probably be out for another couple of weeks.

“He comes off the bench in the middle and plays really well, so it’s about getting James a bit of support.

“We played Tepa in the front row, he started and he’s a good young kid. He’s a talented young footballer. He’s just got to get a bit fitter and learn to play longer minutes

“Some of our other front rowers are going well, but a couple are young and have to learn to grind into an A-grade game of football.”

ORMEAU 28 (A Setu, T Arokapiti, C Rankmore, A Ma’afu, J Jeffress tries; J Rogers 4 goals) DEF HELENSVALE 14 (C Pirihi, A Worot, D Goldsmith tries; K Clark goal)

REDBACKS SPIRITUAL LEADER’S LAST GASP MOMENT

As Mudgeeraba hooker Danny Kerr overcomes some health issues on the sidelines, the Redbacks were in need to a number nine capable of keeping their promising campaign charging.

Enter Craig Garvey.

The former Canterbury Bulldogs dummy-half, and Tweed Seagulls regular in the Queensland cup, made his Rugby League Gold Coast debut in a gruelling 22-20 triumph over Tugun on Sunday.

Garvey made his presence felt with a crucial try in what Mudgeeraba coach Martin Griese described as a “scrappy … tit-for-tat’ affair, as his side overturned their narrow loss to the Seahawks in Round 1 of the season.

“He’s just a quality player, one of our hookers is out at the moment so he filled the gap very nicely in there and fit in with the culture that we’re building,” Griese said of Garvey.

“It was his energy, he brings line speed and he’s constantly asking questions of the defensive line. Danny Kerr; he’s got a kidney issues, he had failure a few weeks back but he’s good and should be good in a week.

“It was a good character building win, it’s always god to win ugly.”

The lead exchanged between the two sides regularly at Firth Park, with star Tugun centre Tim Cassidy helping himself to a hat-trick.

However as the Redbacks trialled heading into the final five minutes, they needed their spiritual leader to stand up and make his presence felt.

That is exactly what former NRL edge forward Zeb Taia did.

In his first season with the club, the veteran of more than 300 first-grade appearances has been crucial to Mudgeeraba’s success in 2022, according to Griese, and his matchwinning try proved that as much.

With another daunting task ahead of them against Southport this week, Griese said they would need the likes of Taia to continue setting the standard they had thus far.

“He’s just that calm head, his leadership is crucial. It’s been pivotal to our success, we’ve got a lot of young people in our team and he seem to hold it all together,” he said.

“He’s one of the ones who leads by actions, he doesn’t need to say a lot of words. It’s just sort of see what I do and follow.”

MUDGEERABA 22 (L Ticehurst, C Garvey, J Melrose, J Taia tries; K Williams 3 goals) DEF TUGUN 20 (Tim Cassidy 3 tries; M Burgess 4 goals)

NEW LOOK SEAGULLS BACK IN THE MIX

NRL premiership winner Ben Hannant scored his first try since returning to rugby league, however it was not enough to get Currumbin over the line.

Faced with a Runaway Bay side determined to get back in the winner’s circle, the Eagles led by four points inside the final 10 minutes, only for tries to Seagulls duo Flynn Groth and Jack Ward to inspire a 30-24 triumph.

Ward’s 79th match winner was his second of Sunday afternoon, while Terry Wapi and Bayley Loughhead also crossed in a backline missing Papua New Guinea Hunters’ rookie Tyler Han and Gold Coast Vikings representative Queille Murray

Interchange forward Kitron Laka also scored for the home side.

While the Eagles were brave in defeat, the clash was another chance for young hooker Tyler Creecy to prove he belonged in the top level.

Currumbin coach Matt Geyer said he had been intentionally keeping the young rake on the bench in a bid to ease him into the rigours of A-grade football.

However in his second start in the number nine jumper, Creecy proved he was ready for the role, scoring a try late in the first half to get his side back into the contest.

“It could’ve been a lot earlier (when he started), I was holding him back trying to look after him but he showed he doesn’t need looking after,” Geyer said.

“He’s such a team man … he’s a great kid and a good asset to the club.”

RUNAWAY BAY 30 (J Ward 2, B Loughhead, T Wapi, K Laka, F Groth tries; A Booth 3 goals) DEF CURRUMBIN 24 (C Hennessey, T Creecy, B Hannant, L Lyndon tries; S Bunt 4 goals)

TIGERS END BURLEIGH’S REIGN

There is every chance Gold Coast rugby league fans were treated to what could have been a grand final preview, after Southport fought their way to a gutsy 10-8 win over Burleigh.

A penalty goal was all that separated the two sides, as the Bears unbeaten run to start the 2022 campaign came undone.

A try to Burleigh centre Conor Carey after just three minutes threatened to blow the game wide open, with the former Queensland Cup representative maintaining his lead atop of the try scorers tally with eight.

But the Tigers came out in the second half with a point to prove.

While a Burleigh penalty goal extended the lead, Malachi Morgan's try and three goals to Zane Harris sealed a fifth straight Southport. Morgan’s try was his seventh for the year, keeping him in outright second and one off Carey.

Having played an extra game, the win launches Southport to the top of the table, as their team flushed with past NRL talent clicks into gear on the back of five straight wins.

SOUTHPORT 10 (M Morgan try; Z Harris 3 goals) DEF BURLEIGH 8 (C Carey try; R McKenzie-O’Brien 2 goals)

BATTLE WITHOUT A ‘VERY DANGEROUS CHARACTER’: RLGC ROUND 8 ANALYSIS

— May 27/22

Currumbin will be forced to battle in their return to the field without a star winger who coach Matt Geyer described as a “very dangerous character”.

Josh Walker typified the style of play Geyer was aiming to instil in his young team — courageous and energetic against the fiercest challenges — when the Eagles suffered a narrow 30-28 defeat to the undefeated Burleigh Bears.

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Scoring two tries on the right flank, the 22-year-old broke his thumb during the contest, however with no subs left to use remained on the field.

While Geyer initially instructed him to simply be a “distraction” rather than get too involved and risk further injury, within five minutes Walker was crossing to the left flank to score his second try and keep their hopes of a shock upset alive.

Walker will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks nursing the setback, but Geyer said it was the bravery he showed that summed up the mentality he was hoping would spread through the club.

With the likes of Ben Willetts, Nash Geyer and Jacob Schimke all finding their feet in the top grade alongside Walker, he said these tough lessons were paving the way for long-term success.

“I thought that game against Burleigh was the best game I’ve coached him (Walker) in. He was off his wing more than he was on it, and that’s scary for an opposition,” Geyer said.

“Once he finds his role and where to be he’s a very dangerous character. That second try he scored, I’m going to have to comment, he broke his thumb as well.

“I said (to the others) don’t let him go near the ball, look after him in defence and if they run at him get him out of the way and just be a distraction. About five minutes later he’s a right hand winger on the left hand side scoring a try.

“He’s 22, he’s that main age we’ve got at the moment … there’s about seven from the same junior team which is really cool to then be playing senior footy.

“Last time we played I said I’m the most optimistic last placed coach in history. We’re putting things in place at Currumbin, we’re looking for some sustained success and we’re not looking for a quick fix.”

Currumbin will take on a Runaway Bay side eager to launch a comeback into the winner’s circle, having lost their past three games prior to the season’s wet weather delays.

However the Eagles will look to one of their big men to set the standard, a man who has achieved everything rugby league has to offer.

Two-time NRL premiership champion Ben Hannant has been an on and off field mentor to the club’s young forwards, churning out big minutes at prop in the process.

While Geyer said the former Queensland Maroon believed he was not as fit as he would like to be at this stage, that was simply a daunting prospect for what he could achieve in the second half the campaign.

“He’s done everything in the game Benny, and the big thing for him coming to our club he asked to be there, he wants to be there,” Geyer said.

“He’s coaching and teaching our middle forwards about the subtleties of the middle forward game, and he gets annoyed when I take him off.

“On game day he’s hurting as much as anyone (when we lose), he’s playing big minutes and not looking for an easy out.

“He says he’s not fit, that’s his standards; he’s certainly fit enough, but judging by his own assessment he’ll be fitter. If he’s not fit yet I’m excited for when he does get fit, who knows what we’ll get then?”

The Eagles and Seagulls will kick off from 3pm on Sunday at Bycroft Oval.

BURLEIGH VS SOUTHPORT FRIDAY 8PM

Last Time They Met:

Burleigh 20 (A Lockwood, B Campbell, R McKenzie-O’Brien, K Rowe tries; R McKenzie-O’Brien 2 goals) def. Southport 18 (S Katoa 2, Z Harris tries, J Rio 2, Z Harris goals)

While the Bears looked largely in control of their Round 1 clash with the Tigers, a late Southport flurry kept them firmly in the mix.

It was the first chance Southport fans got to see marquee signings Sione Katoa and Greg Bird in action, and since then they have well and truly found their groove.

Burleigh middle man Jayden Sharpe was inspirational on and off the ball, while fullback Kurtis Rowe made a statement in his return to A-grade.

For the Tigers, halfback Zane Harris prove a constant threat, as did Katoa out of dummy-half in scoring a double, but their cohesion seemed to lack.

That has all changed in recent weeks, as the yellow and black army stormed to a four-game winning streak prior to the torrential conditions to hit the region postponing contests.

Key Player Battle: Kurtis Rowe (Bears) vs Michael Oldfield (Tigers)

The battle of these two fullbacks is set to be an electric one.

Kurtis Rowe has been a constant threat throughout the season for the Bears, not only for what he offers with the ball in hand but for his ability to orchestrate a defensive line.

If there is ever even a hint of an opportunity, the former Wests Tiger capitalises on it and his involvement has been crucial in the defending champion’s undefeated start to 2022.

However this is arguably his biggest challenge yet.

Former Parramatta gun Michael Oldfield, a veteran of more than 100 first-grade appearances, was not in the side for Southport’s Round 1 loss, however he has more than made up for lost time.

A genuine utility back, Oldfield has found a home in the number one jumper and turned in a series of brilliant performances that have breathed life into the Tigers campaign after a slow start.

Expect these two to trade shots all night.

What This Game Means For Each Season

For Burleigh not much needs to change. They are the titleholders, they are the unbeaten force, they are the team to beat.

However for Southport, this is about redemption and to see just how far they have come.

Speaking after the Tigers win over Currumbin, a candid Zane Harris spoke of how the side discussed casting aside their egos following two losses to start the season. They were a team of champions, many of whom had played in the NRL and Queensland Cup, and yet it just was not clicking.

Since that conversation a complete turnaround has taken place, and now they loom as the juggernaut they threatened to be in the pre-season.

This clash could truly be the biggest indication of who is the Gold Coast’s top dog.

HELENSVALE VS ORMEAU SATURDAY 6PM

Last Time They Met:

Ormeau 42 (J Tutuila 2, I Luke 2, B Pakura, A Setu, J Rogers tries; J Rogers 7 goals) def. Helensvale 10 (B Kelly, K Ferguson tries; C Pirihi goal)

The returning side against the region’s youngest side also proved to be the one blowout of the opening round gala day.

Spearheaded by Kiwi legend Issac Luke, the Shearers announced their return to the Rugby League Gold Coast with an emphatic victory against the second-year Hornets.

Helensvale coach Clinton Toopi was left to lament dropped ball after dropped ball from his team, as Luke and Ormeau prop James Tutuila ran rampant over their younger rivals.

Everything Luke touched seemed to turn to gold, while Tutuila proved near impossible to stop at times — particularly close to the line.

Helensvale were quick to rebound the following week against Currumbin, however a series of heavy defeats have since followed.

With plenty of time to lick their wounds as the rain hit the region, the Hornets will be eager to prove they are not a spent force in the competition.

Key Player Battle: Jay Blazek (Hornets) vs James Tutuila (Shearers)

The young buck determined to make his mark against the leader of the Ormeau pack.

Jay Blazek will take his place in the number 13 jumper, having gone a long way to establishing himself as the heart and soul of the Hornets squad.

Even in defeat the rising talent refuses to relent, often the first man at contact multiple times in a defensive set.

If he is looking for a challenge, they do not come much bigger than James Tutuila.

The Shearers big man crashed over for two tries when the sides last met, and since then he has continued to be a daunting battering ram for opposition defences. He has proven to be more than capable of replicating the feat, as he stands as the second leading try scorer in the competition with six.

Expect Blazek to take the task head on, and Tutuila to try and put the young buck in his place.

What This Game Means For Each Season

Both teams are in desperate need of a win.

Each have just one win to their credit for the 2022 campaign, with the Hornets win over Currumbin the one time since the opening round neither side have had 30 or more points scored on them.

Helensvale and Ormeau are both very much in development phases, given how raw they are in the competition, and the two sides will sense that this clash is the chance to build some momentum into the second half of the season.

RUNAWAY BAY VS CURRUMBIN SUNDAY 3PM

Last Time They Met:

Runaway Bay 20 (T Han 2, A Booth, M Jesse tries; Q Murray goal) def. Currumbin 4 (B Desmond try)

Seagulls fullback Tyler Han was simply electric in this contest.

The dynamic fullback was in the thick of everything, scoring two tries and frequently taking the defensive line on with no fear.

Halfback Aaron Booth was there calmly pulling the strings, and a series of errors from the Eagles ensured they were never right in the contest.

Only resilient Currumbin defence kept the scoreline somewhat in check, a trait they have shown often even in defeat ever since that day.

Key Player Battle: Aaron Booth (Seagulls) vs Scott Bunt (Eagles)

Aaron Booth began the season with a bang; bravely taking the line on, marshalling his troops into the positions he wanted them in and showcasing a probing kicking game into his rivals goal line.

A brief stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury hindered his progress, however the rain delays could be exactly what was needed to get him rolling once again.

Eagles halfback Scott Bunt has been a reliable leader for his side, especially given the wealth of youngsters in the A-grade line up.

His kicking game off the tee proved to be the difference in their one win of the year — a 4-0 shock of Tugun — and he will be looking to adopt the same success in general play on Sunday.

With plenty of young men to steer around the park, whichever number seven plays his role the best will likely be the man who celebrates a victory by the final whistle.

What Game Means For Season

Even after their loss to Burleigh, Currumbin will take plenty of confidence from the encounter.

No one could have expected how well they fought against the premiership holders, especially after going down 12-0 inside the opening 10 minutes of their eventual 30-28 loss.

They were brave in defeat, turning in their finest performance of the year, and will be hoping the competition’s postponements have not derailed their progress.

As for the Seagulls, they are in need to a shot in the arm.

Having started the season with three straight wins, Runaway Bay have lost each encounter since and will be desperate to ensure they remain in the premiership conversation.

They will likely have to do so without Tyler Han, who has been called in the Papua New Guinea Hunters side for the past two Queensland Cup games.

MUDGEERABA VS TUGUN SUNDAY 3PM

Last Time They Met:

Tugun 22 (S Latu 2, M Koellner tries; M Burgess 5 goals) def. Mudgeeraba 20 (J Bukowski 2, M Tiopira, J Malcolm tries; Z Taia 2 goals)

This was easily the game of the opening round.

Two sides battling it out from pillar to post in what proved to be a physical and bruising contest.

Seahawks winger Samiu Latu was at his devastating best, barging over for a double with the type of force that made a simple statement: if you get in his way, he will run over the top of you.

The Redbacks ultimately went down in a cliffhanger, despite scoring more tries as Tugun halfback Michael Burgess’ flawless kicking off the tee proved the difference.

Key Player Battle: Kyle Williams (Redbacks) vs Zac Beecher (Seahawks)

Both these men were called up into the Gold Coast Vikings squad, and now they will face off in their first battle of the season.

Williams’ composure and commanding voice at the back was a noticeable absence in the Redbacks Round 1 loss, but since his return he has been one of Mudgeeraba’s best in what has turned out to be an impressive campaign thus far.

As for Tugun’s Zac Beecher, he has been nothing short of a revelation at times.

The Ballina product shone for the Vikings, and his work alongside former Melbourne Storm custodian Paul Sheedy has no doubt helped with his rapid rise.

He may not be the man to score the tries and steal the limelight, but Beecher’s safety under the high ball and toughness to take each hard carry in front of him has been key to the Seahawks surge to second on the ladder.

Not bad for a man in his first season in the number one jumper.

What This Game Means For Each Season

Mudgeeraba will be out to prove they have overcome the minor lapses in concentration and discipline issues which proved to be their downfall in Round 1.

Since then the Redbacks have been truly impressive, their win over a stacked Southport side announcing them as genuine contenders in 2022.

Due to the weather they are yet to test themselves against Burleigh, but have proven already they are up for the big fights.

Tugun have cast aside a lacklustre period in which they lost three games straight and have built towards what could be another grand final appearance.

While they ground out a win in Round 1, they will be wary of the Redbacks attack given they outscored them last time.

nick.wright@news.com.au