Wynnum Manly made it four on the trot as they out-lasted a tough Tweed Heads Seagulls outfit 22-12 at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday night.
The victory ensured the Bayside club retains second place on the ladder which they share with Mackay Cutters and Ipswich Jets.
The trio of sides trail only the dominant Townsville Blackhawks, who thumped the Burleigh Bears 78-6 in a dazzling display and continue to justify their tag as the competition’s favourites.
Whilst the Intrust Super Cup is not decided in May, Wynnum Manly head coach Jon Buchanan praised the progress of his side, especially young forward Aaron Rockley who was named the victors’ Players’ Player.
The Brisbane Bronco front rower carried the ball with ferocity all game long and despite his age he stood up time and again against a powerful Tweed Heads forward pack.
Supporting Rockley were whole hearted efforts from back rower Brendon Gibb and winger Peter Gubb.
Gibb was at his high-octane best again, delivering a couple of momentum changing plays in defence that thwarted attacking threats by the visitors.
Although he lines up on the wing, Gubb fulfils a similar role to Manu Vatuvei, running like an extra forward and kick starting Wynnum Manly’s sets with charging carries on plays one or two.
Tweed Heads’ winger Kalifa Faifai Loa was dangerous every time he touched the ball, notching up two tries. The Gold Coast Titan gave his all as he roamed across the field throughout the game looking for a carry in every set.
After an intense opening block of football where the two physical forward packs worked each other out, XXXX Queensland Residents backrower Mitchell Frei put first points on the scoreboard for the home side with a trademark line back against the ruck.
The visitors hit straight back when Faifai Loa scored his first for the day. The Residents’ winger took a routine scoot from dummy half, then twisted and fended his way out of tackle attempts to bust through the line and run 30m for the try.
However Wynnum Manly centre Mitchell Buckett would do some twisting of his own, forcing the ball down in the left corner to have the home side in front 10-6 at the break.
Wynnum Manly got the better of the crucial 10 minute period after halftime to extend their lead after a Matt Seamark led short side raid allowed Matt Grieve to get over the line.
Fullback Daniel Ogden pushed Wynnum Manly ahead 22-6 with his 12th try of the season when he latched onto a Greg Eden grubber in front of a cheering Chook Pen.
Fourteen minutes from fulltime, Faifai Loa recorded his second through the good lead-up work of centre Tim Cassidy who got outside his opposite and offloaded for his winger to cross in the right corner.
Wynnum Manly held the visitors out for the rest of the match to record their fourth consecutive victory.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 22 (Daniel Ogden, Matthew Grieve, Mitchell Buckett, Mitchell Frei tries; Matthew Seamark 3 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 12 (Kalifa Faifai Loa 2 tries; Jamal Fogarty 2 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval.
Final teams
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden 2. Peter Gubb 3. Matthew Grieve 4. Mitchell Buckett 5. Greg Eden 6. Patrick Templeman 7. Matthew Seamark 8. Ben Shea 9. David Stagg 10. Tim Natusch (c) 11. Aaron Rockley 12. Brendon Gibb 13. Mitchell Frei 14. John Te Reo 15. Jon Grieve 16. Tanu Wulf 17. Olsi Krasniqi
Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Shaun Carney 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. Luke Dumas 4. Tim Cassidy 5. Kalifa Faifai Loa 6. Ricardo Parata 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Damian Sironen (c) 9. Matt Srama 10. Oliver Percy 11. Matt Robinson 12. Dane Clarke 13. Sam Saville 14. Sam Meskell 15. Hemi Mullen 18. Ben Ridge 17. Will Bugden
