Meninga Cup grand final bound: Dolphins to play Burleigh Bears
Meninga Cup grand final latest: Redcliffe to play the Bears in the decider after a Broncos signing helped inspire Burleigh to a Gold Coast local derby victory over Tweed.
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The battle of the forward packs will be worth the admission price alone when Redcliffe play Burleigh in next weekend’s Meninga Cup grand final.
Redcliffe’s pack steam rolled Mackay during a 42-14 win on Saturday, while the Burleigh forwards also paved the way for their team’s 30-14 win against Tweed Seagulls on Sunday.
Both Redcliffe and Burleigh roared to winning advantages early, with the Dolphins winning margin established after just 20 minutes when they led 30-nil.
Likewise, the Bears also ambushed Tweed at the start, with left second rower powerhouse Kilarney Lavender and express centre Antonio Verhoeven both crossing to establish a 16-nil break for Burleigh.
That lead could not be reeled in by Tweed, the minor premiers who were far and away the best team during the home-and-away season.
BRYCE WARMS HIS ENGINES
Bears second rower Jett Bryce was at the peak of his powers as he helped spearhead Burleigh to its local derby win over arch rivals Tweed, the 2024 premiers.
Aggressive on both sides of the ball, Bryce’s energy and enthusiasm lit a fire under his side in both halves.
The Bears aggressive running and attacking defence played a big part in them gaining an advantage on the scoreboard, with captain Anton Whaiapu thundering down the middle with intent that was matched by second rower Bryce.
A fast start by the visitors, playing down the coast in Tweed, was just what the doctor ordered.
BEARS’ DYNAMIC HALVES DUO
Could Burleigh have started better?
No way in the world as straight, hard running and fast feet and hands of playmakers Hayden Watson and Marley McLaren fired their team’s attack on both sides of the ruck.
Hooker and captain Watson played as a left halfback while McLaren worked the right side of the field, with Watson’s ball skills and quick feet adding to his team’s potency.
It was 16-nil and then 20-4 when hulking winger Bailey Trew plunged over in the right corner for the Bears to move closer to victory.
Then with 10 minutes remaining, McLaren beautifully used the field to give early ball to electric fullback Saxon Innes who glided over to score.
The match was safe with Burleigh leading 30-10.
With Cooper Humphreys and Ryder Abell holding the fort at dummyhalf, Watson was free to run his team’s potent left side containing impressive centre Antonio Verhoeven.
TWEED’S OLD FIRM NOT ENOUGH
Zane Harrison’s innate combination with livewire Tweed fullback Ray Puru and left centre Sam Stephenson, which dates back to their school days, helped resurrect the Seagulls’ campaign after Burleigh had stolen the march on their rivals.
Halfback Harrison picked up floating fullback Puru on the right side to score, and not long after Harrison lobbed a pass into a hole which Stephenson found at top pace.
But not even those instinctive combinations could rescue Tweed from Burleigh’s fantastic start.
TUPOU’S ELEVATION
In a huge vote of confidence by Bears coach Will Pei, Marsden SHS schoolboy Tupou Francis was promoted into the starting side to play prop after finishing his under-17s commitments in the Connell Cup.
Displaying typical explosive leg drive and aggression, Francis kept it simple to help drive his side onto the front foot.
Verhoeven, Lavender (two tries), Trew, Bryce and Innes scored the points in the 16-point topping of Tweed.
REDCLIFFE v MACKAY
DOLPHINS’ PILE-DRIVING FORWARDS
The Dolphins scored six successive tries to blast their country cousins off the paddock, with props Cody Starr, Carter Ford and second rower Patrick Kailahi too strong and quick with their play the balls in the middle.
From that foundation, Redcliffe stacked the left side of the field where halves Lachlan Buchbach and Noah Fien played alongside each other.
Firing pin hooker Braelan marsh offered his halves outstanding service as well, creating a quick 16-0 buffer in the opening 10 minutes.
To Mackay’s credit they rallied in the second half, flying their district’s flag with effort on effort players.
But the damage had been done.
REDCLIFFE’S START
+ Redcliffe’s remarkable onslaught included a try in the first set of the game to Xavier Kirk, and another soon after when centre Callum Bowles also beat his opponent after the Dolphins forwards rolled down the field.
+ Just minutes later Patrick Kailahi’s driving run and quick play the ball enabled Marsh to attack from the ruck, leading to a dive over try from short range. It was 16-0 in the blink of an eye.
+ Bowles’ line running at left centre continued to cause Mackay all sorts of trouble, and his lovely distribution to winger Kirk created Redcliffe’s fourth in the opening 15 minutes.
+ Hooker Marsh and the halves pairing of Buchbach and Fien were having a field day on the left side, benefiting from the momentum generated by Starr, Ford, Kailahi and Jac Finigan, and it was no surprise to see a 34-0 half time score ensue.
+ the Buchbach-Fien partnership continued at pace, with Fien nudging through a grubber kick that produced a try for the chasing Buchbach.
+ Minutes later Redcliffe then worked a simple hands play on the right side, using space down a wide blindside play which enabled Reeco Kirk to put his winger Jeremiah Patea over after Fien had cleverly ran straight in attack.
At 30-nil, Redcliffe were preparing for grand final week.
The grand final promises to be a spectacle.
Both Redcliffe and Burleigh possess a mix of forward brute strength, backline fire power and x-factor.
Burleigh have not won a Meninga Cup title this decade, while Redcliffe will be looking to return to the top after winning the 2023 season.
Originally published as Meninga Cup grand final bound: Dolphins to play Burleigh Bears
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