Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final recap and big talking points

Barbarians have claimed the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union A-grade premiership with a gutsy win over Noosa in front of a packed house. Here’s the five big talking points out of the game.

University Barbarians have claimed the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union A-grade premiership with a gutsy win over Noosa Dolphins in front of a packed house at Sippy Downs.

The Barbarians scored the only try of the game in a tight, tense 10-6 match with wind a major factor in the contest.

Here’s the five biggest talking points from a memorable grand final.

That defence.

Be it sheer will or the home crowd spurring them on, a tank would have struggled to break Barbarians’ line on Saturday.

Brad Tronc’s men were forced to hang on in the dying stages as fatigue set in and did it a man down from a yellow card.

For more than 10 minutes, or to Tronc “like half an hour”, University withstood wave upon wave of Dolphins attack.

Their line did not crack.

“We didn’t have the ball, at all, and to hold these guys scoreless for 80 minutes with the wind against us and a man down,” a lost for words Tronc said at full-time.

“14 guys busting their arses. Just not giving up which we built the whole season on.

“It felt like half an hour. They had so many opportunities to score. I have lost so many in that scenario but they dug in.”

The win was Uni’s third in succession over Noosa.

University’s victory was Brad Tronc’s first title as coach.

The match winner

Jona Conradii is the University Barbarians’ mid-season recruit turned grand final hero who scored the match winning try in the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union decider.

Fijian-born Conradii, 23, joined Barbarians mid-season from Hervey Bay after Uni coach Brad Tronc sent him a text.

The rest was history.

With the game locked at 3-3 and the teams trading punishment and field position without inflicting scoreboard damage, Conradii broke the it wide open.

It was a 20-metre dash down the short side from Conradii, following by a sharp left foot-step and a furious pumping of the legs and the playmaker crashed over.

From there, University were able to hang on despite an almighty scare from Noosa.

“I didn’t know if I could get there or go through, so as soon as I got hit I just kept pumping the legs, I felt the boys on my back come right through. It was a team try in the end,” a humble Conradii said post-game.

Noosa brave and classy in defeat

Reigning premiers Noosa Dolphins can hold their heads high after coming just short of back-to-back titles.

Led by skipper Nick Colvin, the Dolphins showed courage and a never give up attitude despite being able to land the killer blow.

A penalty goal to make the scores 10-6 would have proved a masterstroke decision if they’d been able to crack Uni’s line.

It was not to be.

“Full credit to you guys who played unreal, the defence was unmatchable, and we just couldn’t get through with multiple opportunities. Enjoy the night, you deserve it,” Colvin said.

“This is for you”

Tronc dedicated the victory to vice-captain Mitch Portors who was unable to take part as he was a groomsman at a wedding.

Portors, a former club captain, also lost his father Chris and Barbarians stalwart to prostate cancer earlier this year.

University had been rocked by the passing of Mr Portors, but also reserve grade player Liam Van Horen to a car crash and young gun Jacob Mabb to an accident in Bali.

“We have done this for Mitch, he’s in the core of our minds, same as Mr Portors, same as Liam Van Horen, and as Jacob Mabb,” Tronc said.

“This one is for them.”

Wedding canned

While Portors was unable to make Saturday’s epic due to an ill-timed wedding, the same cannot be said for lock Callum Smith.

Smith was supposed to be attending a separate wedding to Portors however, he decided late on Thursday to can it.

It comes after the Sunshine Coast Daily broke the story that Portors and Smith would miss the grand final.

Tronc said Smith had been heckled online for missing the game which ultimately changed his mind.

“To everyone who called him (Smith) weak, it wasn’t an easy decision for him but he canned it for the team,” Tronc said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final recap and big talking points