Banyo Devils saved their best game to last with a thrilling 36-18 win over minor premiers Brothers Juniors in the Rugby League Brisbane men’s open 1 competition.
Led by powerhouses Jordan Brown, Brenden Cousins and Jay Manase, the Devils forwards paved the way in what was a near perfect display of rugby league.
But it was the Brethren who struck first in the third minute, courtesy of winger Codie Fisk, with the flyer outpacing his opposite number to cross in the corner.
After that early scare, the Devils regrouped and, on the back of some good field position from Brown and Lachlan Berge, it was Banyo’s winger Jackson Clark who got his side on the board, with a dashing run to the corner.
Devils stalwart Brown was in everything and it would be the powerful back rowers pass to five-eighth Callum Davies, who went in untouched under the posts, that put the Devils ahead.
Brothers were certainly still in the game and a superb kicking game from five-eighth Patrick Fall, nearly had the Leprechauns go in again, only for the ball to sail into touch.
The Devils responded just before the break when Banyo winger Isaiah Waigana inched his way to the line to see his side head into the break leading 14-6.
The Devils wasted no time after the break in adding more points to the scoreboard through Devil’s powerful centre Brocco Uhrle, who used his strength to palm off two would be Brothers defenders to cross out wide.
But never write off the Fighting Irish. Fight they did through 400 game veteran Ben Munro, who caught the Devils napping, barging his way over from dummy half to score under the sticks.
It was the Devils' colossus forward pack though who were troubling the Brethren and with Banyo introducing super-sub Brenton Sefo-Wallace to the fold, it paid dividends, when he took four Leprechauns over the line with him to score.
However, the Leprechauns were not done yet and some strong running by fullback Sam Fall and a near-perfect passing game from Dallas Retchless, put Brothers in a superb position in the Devils' half.
In response, Brothers scored again when Fisk went in for his second try of the afternoon and with a howler of a touchline conversion by Patrick Fall, Brothers were only a converted try behind.
However, Brothers' ill-discipline late in the game resulted in a man sent to the sin bin for foul play.
Banyo took advantage of their opposition being a man down and through some hard running from Samson Hookey and Manase, the Devils crossed again in the corner through replacement William Aramoana, who planted the ball over the try line.
Hookey ensured the trophy was heading back to the Bora Ring when he steamed onto a pass from halfback Ben Mason, crashing his way over under the sticks to cap off what was a thrilling grand final to end the season.
