Statewide score wrap: The curtain closes on 2020
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After three massive senior grand finals in the southeast, the curtain has been closed on a unique and memorable 2020 season.
Unprecedented, but inspiring; without the hard-work, dedication and commitment from club and league volunteers, there would not have been a season to begin with.
But instead, when the opportunity arose and a resumption of play was given the thumbs up, the work began to make the greatest game of all, great again... culminating in three big finales at Pathion Park, Cbus Super Stadium and North Ipswich Reserve.
In Safe Hands Cup - Brisbane
Spurred by the memory of Mitch Cronin, Wynnum Manly put in a rousing performance to outclass West Brisbane Panthers and claim a Brisbane Rugby League three-peat with a 41-6 victory.
Both sides had strong support at Pathion Park, but it was the Seagulls fans who were in full voice early with their team leading from start to finish in a comprehensive performance.
Wynnum Manly started the game in a dominant fashion, scoring two early tries; before the Panthers hit back, scoring what turned out to be their only points of the match.
In the second half, the Seagulls really turned it up, scoring five unanswered tries to seal the triple crown; with captain Aaron Booth dedicating the title to the late, great Mitch Cronin.
Read the full report: Wynnum Manly claim three-peat with win over Panthers
Grand final results
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 41 (Max Elliott 2, Matt Milson, Junior Pauga, Rahkeem Auda, Ben Farr, Manaia Cherrington tries; Junior Pauga 6 goals; Aaron Booth field goal) defeated West Brisbane Panthers 6 (Brandon Downey try; Kyle Van Klaveren goal)
Final ladder
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valleys Diehards | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | +196 | 27 |
| 2 | Wynnum Manly Seagulls | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | +204 | 26 |
| 3 | Carina Tigers | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | +89 | 25 |
| 4 | West Brisbane Panthers | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | +121 | 24 |
| 5 | Pine Rivers Bears | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -122 | 17 |
| 6 | Normanby Hounds | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -151 | 15 |
| 7 | Brighton Roosters | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -83 | 14 |
| 8 | Bulimba Bulldogs | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | -254 | 12 |
QTOP A Grade Premiership - Gold Coast
Influential five-eighth Guy Hamilton proved the difference for Runaway Bay in the Gold Coast’s QTOP A Grade grand final, with the Seagulls defeating the Burleigh Bears 22-14 at Cbus Super Stadium.
The Intrust Super Cup regular produced a man of the match performance in front of the 4,011-strong crowd, having a hand in three of the Bay's four tries.
They got off to a flyer when James Poland broke through the line to score, and made it back-to-back tries in the 9th minute when Jake Powell went over in the corner.
Burleigh got themselves back in the contest in the 22nd minute when Brett Stratton sliced through, and momentum began to swing Burleigh’s way when No. 9 Jordan Scott barged over to bring the scores level.
A try just before half-time saw Bay lead 16-10 at the break, and with the game in the balance, a failed Burleigh raid in the 53rd minute saw Hamilton link up with fullback John Mackin to produce the try of the match.
Shawn Anderson crashed over for Burleigh in the 74th minute, reducing the gap to eight points; but some desperate defence late in the contest earned them a hard-fought victory.
Read the full report: Hamilton stars as Seagulls runaway with title
Grand final results
Runaway Bay Seagulls 22 (Alex Bishop, Jack Powell, Darcy Sims, John Mackin tries; Jack Powell 3 goals) defeated Burleigh Bears 14 (Brett Stratton, Jordan Scott, Shawn Anderson tries; Jayden Campbell goal)
Final ladder
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Runaway Bay Seagulls | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | +51 | 29 |
| 2 | Burleigh Bears | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | +114 | 24 |
| 3 | Southport Tigers | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | +79 | 22 |
| 4 | Mudgeeraba Redbacks | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -24 | 22 |
| 5 | Currumbin Eagles | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -24 | 18 |
| 6 | Tugun Seahawks | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -118 | 18 |
| 7 | Ormeau Shearers | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -78 | 17 |
Volunteers Cup - Ipswich
The Goodna Eagles' Volunteers Cup rampage has continued into the big dance, coming away with a 44-14 win over the Norths Tigers after a perfect start.
For 13 minutes, the Tigers and Eagles were sorting each other out, until Goodna front rower Rez Phillips spotted a small opening to give them their grand final start.
The minor premiers then went on a try-scoring rampage... and when Fa’ata’ape Timai strolled through for Goodna's fourth, they had the perfect 24-0 start and had all but wrapped up the game before half-time.
Trailing 28-4 at the break; whatever Norths coach Mick Newton said at half-time inspired his troops as it only took them two minutes to score in the second 40.
But shortly after, Goodna hit back with three more tries to send the trophy up Ipswich Road to Noel Kelly Drive; and although Norths were able to end their day on a high with a consolation try, it wasn’t enough with the Eagles completely dominating the entire Volunteers Cup season.
Read the full report: Goodna domination continues with grand final masterclass
Grand final results
Goodna Eagles 44 (Fa'ata'ape Timai 2, Rez Phillips, Iosua Afoa, BJ Aufaga-Toomaga, Elone Taufa, Christopher Schwalger, Trivendra Naidu tries; BJ Aufaga-Toomaga 6 goals) defeated Norths Tigers 16 (Ethan Page, Luke Self, Tonga Mounga tries; Tonga Mounga goal)
Final ladder
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goodna Eagles | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | +188 | 18 |
| 2 | Valleys Roosters | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | +65 | 14 |
| 3 | Norths Tigers | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | +2 | 12 |
| 4 | West End Bulldogs | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | +52 | 8 |
| 5 | Souths Tigers | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -130 | 4 |
| 6 | Gatton Hawks | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -177 | 4 |
