Statewide score wrap: Teen coach leads Barcaldine to stunning grand final victory

An 18-year-old coach has led his A Grade side to grand final glory in an extraordinary effort in Central West.

The Barcaldine Sandgoannas, guided by captain / coach Mannix Hunt, achieved a 14-10 victory over the Blackall Magpies on Saturday, just months after they faced the possibility of folding.

Barcaldine were the underdogs heading into the match, finishing the season in fourth with a 4-4 win/loss record.

But they have defied expectations all season, after naming then 17-year-old Hunt as their coach at the start of the year.

Hunt – who turned 18 in June - said the win was still sinking in 48 hours later.

“It’s hard to explain the feeling,” Hunt said.

“It was overwhelming. It’s a really enjoyable feeling to get it and make it that far.

“It means everything. This community is all about the footy. Walking down the street, everyone congratulates you. It means the world to them.”

Hunt, who graduated high school just last year, was encouraged to take the job by his dad.

Barcaldine were struggling to find a coach and faced the possibility of folding for the first time in their long and proud history.

Hunt stepped up to the task and was greatly supported by his team, including those in their 40s who have been around the game for a long time.

Hunt said winning the premiership was, of course, something he dreamed of and even better now it was reality.

“It all started when the club couldn’t find a coach,” Hunt said.

“My old man said I’d be great for it. I’ve been at St Brendan’s (College, Yeppoon) and have a lot of history in footy. He told me to put my hand up for it and see where it goes.

“So, I stuck my hand up and away it went. I was very nervous at the start.

“I’ve never really thought about coaching, no. I’ve coached the little kids here and there, but never seniors, never A Grade. It was a new experience.

“That first game we played, we had nine players debuting at 17 or 18-years-old.

"There were a lot of young fellas in the team. There are a few older blokes in their 40s who have been there and helped out where they could.

“I had a lot of support throughout the season. Everyone was behind me, which helped a lot.

“It was always in the mind to get to that stage. We had to dream big. We got to where we are and it was outstanding. They dug deep, never gave up. It was a brilliant performance.”

The win came after Barcaldine crossed with three minutes left on the clock, breaking the 10-10 deadlock.

Grand final day, held at Blackall Showgrounds, started out with junior teams coming together for their weekly Junior Muster, including sides from Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine and Blackall.

The under 7s started the day out with their Tackle Ready program with NRL game development officer Lauchie Delbridge, and afterwards they played their first game of tackle footy.

Matches continued through the day with Under 9s, 11s and 13s, as well as the Blackwater under 15 and 17 teams who travelled out to play the Central West teams as part of the Central Highlands fixtures prior to the A Grade grand final.

Another special highlight of the day was the arrival of the “Queen of the Central West Rugby League”, 90-year-old Viv Johnson.

She was recently involved in an car accident in Barcaldine but, as one of the region’s biggest supporters, there was no stopping Johnson from getting to another grand final.

The Barcaldine club organised for her to be collected from town and flown by helicopter to the Blackall grounds.

Johnson is well known in the area for her love of the game and the fact she supports every single team, not just Barcaldine.

It was certainly not a grand final to miss, with Barcaldine now the fifth club to win the Central West premiership in the last six seasons, proving how healthy and balanced the competition is.

The 2022 senior awards were presented at the end of the evening:

Men’s Representative POTY: Logan Hauff - Blackall

Women’s Representative POTY: Kailah Kinsey – Longreach / Ilfracombe

Referee of the Year: Adam Hughes – Longreach / Ilfracombe

Fogarty Memorial POTY: Logan Hauff – Blackall

In other grand finals over the weekend, Miriam Vale defeated South Kolan 34-24 to take out the Northern Districts Rugby League title in the Central region, while Gayndah Gladiators overcame Monto Roos 32-14 for the Central Burnett premiership.

Full scores and information for all Queensland A Grade competitions for the weekend August 12-14 are below.

South East region

BRL Premier A Grade

Round 17 results

Bulimba Bulldogs 20 def Valleys Diehards 8
Wynnum Manly Juniors 32 def Pine Rivers Bears 14
Brighton Roosters 30 def Souths Juniors Magpies 16
Carina Tigers 40 def Normanby Hounds 16
West Brisbane Panthers 56 def Beenleigh Pride 18

QTOP Premiership - Gold Coast

Round 15 results

Tugun Seahawks 30 def Mudgeeraba Redbacks 0
Ormeau Shearers 64 def Helensvale Hornets 10
Runaway Bay Seagulls 46 def Currumbin Eagles 30
Burleigh Bears 32 def Southport Tigers 28

A Grade Premiership – Ipswich

Round 6 results (replay of postponed round)

Brothers Ipswich 72 def Goodna Eagles 20
Fassifern Bombers def Redbank Plains Bears (forfeit)
Swifts Bluebirds def Norths Tigers (forfeit)

South East Women's Holcim Cup

Finals Week 2

Preliminary final: Valleys Diehards 22 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 18

Ladder following regular season.

Central region

4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg A Grade Premiership

Bye round

Ladder following regular season.

Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba Men’s Premiership

Round 17 results

Toowoomba Brothers 50 def Newtown Lions 10
Southern Suburbs Tigers 16 def Toowoomba Valleys Roosters 12
Gatton Hawks 40 def Highfields Eagles 26
Dalby Diehards 58 def Pittsworth Danes 20
Warwick Cowboys 48 def Oakey Bears 30
Wattles Warriors 23 def Goondiwindi Boars 22

Toowoomba Sports Club Women's Premiership

Round 17 results

Newtown Lions 66 def Toowoomba Brothers 0
Dalby Diehards 42 def Pittsworth Danes 6
Gatton Hawks 46 def Highfields Eagles 4
Bye: Goondiwindi Boars, Toowoomba Valleys Roosters, Oakey Bears

Maudsley Excavations Cup Men - Sunshine Coast

Round 17 results

Maroochydore Swans 56 def Gympie Devils 10
Caboolture Snakes 40 def Nambour Crushers 24
Kawana Dolphins 14 def Beerwah Bulldogs 12
Caloundra Sharks 26 def Noosa Pirates 12

Maudsley Excavations Cup Women – Sunshine Coast

Round 17 results

Caboolture Snakes 42 def Nambour Crushers 4
Kawana Dolphins 52 def Beerwah Bulldogs 0
Caloundra Sharks 34 def Noosa Pirates 0
Bye: Gympie Devils

Rockhampton Rugby League

Finals Week 2

Semi-final: Emu Park Emus 50 def Fitzroy / Gracemere Sharks 4
Semi-final: Yeppoon Seagulls 32 def Rockhampton Brothers 18

Ladder following regular season.

Rockhampton Rugby League Women’s

Finals Week 1

Semi-final: Rockhampton Brothers 16 def Emu Park Emus 10
Semi-final: Gladstone Wallaby RLFC 24 def Fitzroy / Gracemere Sharks 16

Ladder following regular season.

Northern District Rugby League

Grand final

Miriam Vale Magpies 34 def South Kolan Sharks 24

Ladder following regular season.

Central West Rugby League

Grand final

Barcaldine Sandgoannas 14 def Blackall Magpies 10

Ladder following regular season.

Roma and District Rugby League

Finals Week 1

Semi-final: Roma Cities Gladiators 26 def Mitchell Magpies 12
Semi-final: Wallumbilla / Surat Red Bulls 22 def Chinchilla Bulldogs 12

South Burnett Rugby League

Round 14 results

Kingaroy Red Ants 36 def Wondai Wolves 28
Nanango Stags 38 def Murgon Mustangs 32
Bye: Cherbourg Hornets

Central Burnett Rugby League

Grand final

Gayndah Gladiators 32 def Monto Roos 14