Intrust Super Cup
Tweed Seagulls 54 def Suzuki Brisbane Tigers 12
By Neil Cadigan/Tweed Seagulls
The Campbell Construction Co Tweed Seagulls today recorded their biggest winning margin since 2015 with a 54-12 defeat against Brisbane Tigers at Piggabeen Sports Complex, proving they are a genuine contender in the Intrust Super Cup competition.
Five-eighth Lindon McGrady converted all of Tweed’s nine tries, three from right on the touchline, and added a try of his own for a career-best 22 points as the Seagulls came from behind for the seventh time in eight games this season.
It was the first half-century posted by the Seagulls since a 52-24 win against the Cutters in Mackay in the corresponding eighth round in 2018, with a Tweed side that boasted NRL heavyweights Kane Elgey, AJ Brimson and Moeaki Fotuaika, and the biggest margin since the 50-4 slaughter of Burleigh Bears in the Rivalry Round clash of 2015.
However, it took 23 minutes for Tweed make an imprint on the scoreboard, while the Tigers were down to 12 men with Mitch Frei in the sin bin for a high tackle, after Brisbane had gone to a 6-0 lead after nine minutes with a converted try to fullback Michael Purcell.
It was a tough, even encounter for the first 20 minutes before McGrady opened the scoring with one of several long-range Tweed tries. Lindon backed up to take an inside pass from cousin Brayden McGrady after centre Lee Turner had broken free.
That started a scoring spree that saw the Seagulls score nine tries in 44 minutes to demoralise the Tigers who were missing some key players, but still fielded an experienced Cup side.
Both teams have next weekend off as Week 2 of Round 8’s BHP Indigenous Round takes place.
The Tigers will face the Northern Pride at Barlow Park for their Round 9 match – Sunday 6th June, 2:10pm.
Main photo: Melissa Tabet/Tigers
The Tigers welcomed three debutants to the side in Zak Taibi, Haele Finau and Cameron Torpy in Sunday’s loss to the Seagulls.
Zak Taibi #1362
Intrust Super Cup debut
The Easts Springwood junior started his playing career at the Tigers club in 2014 where he played in the Cyril Connell Cup. Taibi then went on to play for the Tigers in the Mal Meninga Cup and Hastings Deering Colts competitions, before playing for Tigers affiliate club Carina in the BRL A Grade competition.
Haele Finau #1363
Intrust Super Cup debut
The Sunbury Tigers junior started his playing career at the Tigers in 2021 where he has played 5 games in the Hastings Deering Colts competition. Finau came to the Tigers club from Victoria through its development program with Melbourne Storm.
Cameron Torpy #1364
Club debut
Torpy finally made his Club debut after having played all juniors from U7’s to seniors for the Easts juniors club. He re-joined the Tigers after spending the 2019 season with Northern Pride where he made his Intrust Super Cup debut. Cameron is now the last player to have played all junior grades before playing in the club’s Intrust Super Cup side. His brother Brayden held the record prior to his club debut.
BHP Premiership
Tweed Seagulls 16 drew Suzuki Brisbane Tigers 16
By Neil Cadigan/Tweed Seagulls
The Seagulls scored four tries to three, the last coming less than two minutes from full-time when five-eighth Amy Turner crossed scored a brilliant individual try off a set move off a centre-field scrum.
The Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons representative doubled around after passing to left centre Shaylee Bent and beat the scrambling defence with pace.
That left second-rower Zara Canfield – one of Tweed’s best all season in a brave, but under-manned side playing for the second time this season with only 16 players because of injury – with the opportunity to land a difficult goal and give her side a second successive victory to end a tough season, following a 20-14 win against the Capras in Emerald the previous weekend.
However, the ball just swung wide, leaving Tweed with a draw and fifth spot on the ladder in the eight-team competition.
“We certainly didn’t deserve to lose, so a try near the end to draw was just reward for the girls’ efforts,” Tweed coach Chris O’Connell said.
“We dominated the game for a good period and scored four tries to three.
“It was the story of our year. We had a lot of ball, started well, but couldn’t convert that into enough points.
“In most of our games we played really well for 55-60 minutes, but we’d lapse and let in a few tries in the other periods.
“But considering the injuries we had and how we struggled to field enough numbers quite a few times, and to get all the team at training, the girls really put in and hopefully we can keep most of them together and improve further next season.”
Tweed played the entire season without State of Origin second-rower Jessika Elliston who suffered a bad ankle injury in the dying minutes of the final trial game and lost Indigenous All Stars fullback Leticia Quinlan with an ACL injury in the first round.
Yet, they competed to the end with Canfield and Australian representative Tarryn Aiken prominent.
Canfield scored Tweed’s first try in the 12th minute after a long pass to the left from halfback Aiken 10 metres from the line.
Kathrine Moore responded for the Tigers by crashing through the defence from short range on the left edge, with Shae Yvonne De La Cruz giving the Tigers the lead with the conversion.
Brooke Saddler put the Seagulls back in front two minutes after half-time after winning the race for the ball in the left corner from a neat grubber kick off the boot of Canfield, taking the score to 8-6.
Tweed were in again four minutes later when Georgia Hale went over after good lead-up work from dummy half by Rona Peters to make it 12-6.
In the 49th minute Emily Veivers looked left then darted to the right corner to score for Brisbane after winger Lucy Cuppari had been brought down metres from the Seagulls’ line.
Lock Moore went over for her second try in the 53rd minute, just to the left of the posts after stepping off her right foot and burrowing under the defence. Veivers converted to make it 16-12.
After forcing a Tigers’ error, the Tweed players were ecstatic when Turner crossed in the dying seconds, but with a cross wind, it was a difficult kick for Canfield who was warmly embraced by her team mates after full-time.
You can watch the Seagulls v Tigers match highlights here.
The Tigers BHP season has come to an end following the weekend, but must be congratulated for the season they have had considering their ever growing injury toll list.
Overall, they finished in 6th place; 2 wins, 1 drawn, 4 lost, 88 For, 196 Against, -108 Differential.
Hastings Deering Colts
Tweed Seagulls 30 def Suzuki Brisbane Tigers 18
Suzuki Brisbane Tigers Colts four game winning streak came to an end at Piggabeen Sports Complex over the weekend, with a dominant performance from the home side.
The Tigers side lacked on-field experience with three starting players being called up to the Intrust Super Cup side in Ronald Philitoga, Solomona Faataape and Haele Finau.
Unfortunately the Tigers outfit couldn’t capitalise on a 4-point ballgame at half-time with Tweed running away with the game.
The Tigers played their best footy in the last 14 minutes of game, with tries to Kosi Auina and Jude Saldanha in the 67th and 79th minute respectively.
Both teams have next weekend off as Week 2 of Round 7’s BHP Indigenous Round takes place.
The Tigers will face the Northern Pride at Barlow Park for their Round 7 match – Sunday 6th June, 12:10pm.
BRL A Grade Affiliates
Bulimba Bulldogs
West Brisbane Panthers 70 def Bulimba Bulldogs 0
West Brisbane proved too strong against Bulimba in their round 6 match at Frank Lind Oval over the weekend.
Bulimba will want to bounce back after their heavy defeat against new club Beenleigh Pride.
Bulimba will host Beenleigh Pride at Balmoral Recreational Reserve for their Round 7 match – Saturday 29 May, 3:15pm.
Carina Tigers
Brighton Roosters 44 def Carina Tigers 18
The struggling Roosters put in one of their best performances over the week defeating the Tigers 44-18 at Jim Lawrie field.
Carina will want to improve on their performance quickly as they verse a strong West Brisbane Panthers outfit.
Carina will host West Brisbane Panthers at Leo Williams Oval for their Round 7 match – Saturday 29 May, 6:00pm.
