Undefeated minor premiers West Brisbane Panthers will take on the third-placed Wynnum Manly Juniors in the CAOS Premier A Grade grand final this Sunday.
The Panthers have yet to be defeated in 2022 and don’t intend to lose this one.
They have been the outstanding side in the competition with 20 wins from 20 starts. The closest anyone has come this year was Bulimba in Round 7, at 24-22.
Wests defeated Bulimba 28-24 in the major semi-final two weeks ago to earn another week off after having the first week of finals off as minor premiers.
The Seagulls meanwhile had a slow start to the year losing their first three games.
They then won six of their last seven games to finish third. They suffered a 18-12 loss to Bulimba in the qualifying final before they ended the reigning premiers', Valley Diehards, season with a 24-16 win in the minor semi-final at Kitchener Park.
Wynnum Juniors then prevailed in a second meeting with Bulimba, knocking them out of the running in last week's preliminary final, with a 38-20 win.
On the two occasions the Panthers and the Seagulls have met this year, West Brisbane have been dominant - Round 2 was a 42-16 victory and Round 11 was 42-20.
In 2020 the Seagulls and Panthers came together for the grand final at Bishop Park, with Wynnum Juniors punishing Wests in the second half to lift the silverware for a third straight year.
But this is 2022 and the Panthers are primed. With the consistent halves pairing of Kyle "iron shoulders" Foxwell and skipper Simon Brittain-Snowden steering a mobile pack, led by Joss Boyton, West Brisbane have been merciless all season.
They have a backline that can post long range tries. With Auzzie Tuwhangai and the ever-reliable Kyle van Klaveren - in his fifth BRL grand final - at fullback, there appears to be no chinks in the "Mud and Blood" armour.
The Seagulls have momentum and belief. Led by the "Master of Disaster" Adam Tuimavave-Gerard, the Wynnum Manly style of play by dominating the middle third of the field have brought the Seagulls to the big dance.
Noted for their brutal forwards, it has been the backs for Wynnum Juniors who have fed off the carnage caused by their big men. Hooker and skipper Savaan Tahere, half Chris Green, Brandon Jackonia and the dancing Braden Whittaker have been poetry in motion with ball in hand.
BRL A grade premiers since 2015
2015: Ipswich Jets 26 def Wynnum Manly Redland City Seagulls 16
2016: Redcliffe Dolphins 31 def Ipswich Jets 30 (ET)
2017: Valleys Diehards 16 def Redcliffe Dolphins 12
2018: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 28 def Redcliffe Dolphins 20
2019: Wynnum Manly Seagulls 22 def Valleys Diehards 20
2020: Wynnum Manly Juniors Seagulls 41 def West Brisbane Panthers 6
2021: Valleys Diehards 20 def West Brisbane Panthers 18
* Provided by Brad Tallon
BRL grand finals
When
Sunday, September 18
Where
BMD Kougari Oval, Manly West
Team lists
CAOS BRL Premier Under 20s - Brighton Roosters
1. Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo, 2. Farani Pritchard-Malaki, 3. Caleb Pfingst, 4. Ethan Olsen, 5. Zion Waaka, 6. Corey Thomas, 7. Caleb Osborne, 8. Sefo Faatuono, 9. Ethan Powell, 10. Ezekiel Finau, 12. Nicholas Ingram, 11. Braith Major, 12. Manassah Timu, 14. Tamakaimoana Whareaorere, 15. Ezekiel Amituanai, 16. Bryton Nimo, 17. Blair Langridge, 18. Edward Saunders
Coach: Adam Langridge
CAOS BRL Premier Under 20s - Carina Tigers
1. Hayden Molkentien, 2. Kendrick Treadwell, 3. Ayden Kahu Hammond, 4. Antioch Faitala-Mariner, 5. Conor Lalor-Brennan, 6. Moses Jones, 7. Patrick Hoult, 8. Kristian Tornatore, 9. Stirling Smith, 10. Blake Caffrey, 11. Samuel Sili, 12. Connor McCarthy, 13. Julian Drinnan, 14. Jonathan Tapau, 15. Kmani Levi, 16. Tarangariki Sheldon Tairea-Rapana, 17. Jack Morris, 18. Jaden Carpenter, 19. Kendre Wood, 20. Daytona-Lukiz Tupuhi-Taoho
Coach: Ricky Biles
CAOS BRL Premier Reserve Grade - West Brisbane Panthers
1. Samuel Vaughey, 19. Sean Heffernan, 3. Samuel Armstrong, 4. Aaron Corbyn, 5. Noah Elisaia, 14. Hudson Jones, 7. Mitchell Forrest, 12. Lachlan Vellacott, 9. Connor Murray, 10. Moses Tuifao, 11. Jack Paterson, 8. Jacob Kelly, 13. Tangata Teroi, 6. Connor Claridge, 15. Matthew Canning, 16. Joshua Speer, 20. Michael Volkanovski
Coach: Joshua Gough
CAOS BRL Premier Reserve Grade - Brighton Roosters
1. Kyle Hussie, 2. Tuaumu Meni, 3. Joel Strasser, 4. Rece Hansen, 5. Keon Saunders, 6. Corey Thomas, 7. Brock Nelson, 8. Monikura Tikinau, 9. Brock Kehl, 10. Jake Fowler, 11. Josh Gatt, 12. Nicholas Biles, 13. Ballard Lestro, 14. Michael Winchester, 15. Taniora Raniera, 24. Takai Tikinau, 25. Phillip Tikinau, 23. Caleb Eggmolesse
Coach: Timothy Williams
CAOS BRL Premier A Grade - West Brisbane Panthers
1. Kyle Van Klaveren, 2. Dario Takitaki, 3. Auzzie Tuwhangai, 4. Eddie Tautali, 5. Josese Waqalevu, 6. Simon Brittain-Snowden, 7. Kyle Foxwell, 8. Joss Boyton, 9. Tobias Westcott, 10. Usaia Fonongaloa, 11. Samuel Collins, 12. Bryn Callaghan, 13. Jye Ballinger, 15. Zane Wallace, 16. Michael Butson, 17. Kalin Ropata, 19. Leon Panapa
Coaches: Craig and Tye Ingebrigtsen
CAOS BRL Premier A Grade - Wynnum Manly Juniors
1. Brandon Jackonia, 2. Christopher Humphris, 3. Talita Stanford, 4. Rahkeem Auda, 5. Ryan O Keefe, 6. Braden Whittaker, 7. Christopher Green, 22. Blake Pyle, 9. Savaan Tahere, 8. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, 11. James Robinson,
12. Kelepi Faukafa, 10. Lachlan Lee, 13. Nofoasa Malutoa, 14. Samasoni Potemani, 17. Epel Kapinias, 19. Benjamin Shea
Coach: Jason Harris
Draw
11am: CAOS BRL Premier Under 20s
Brighton Roosters v Carina Tigers
1pm: CAOS BRL Premier Reserve Grade
West Brisbane Panthers v Brighton Roosters
3pm: CAOS BRL Premier A Grade
West Brisbane Panthers v Wynnum Manly Juniors
Entry
Adults: $10 adults
Children 17 and under and pension card holders: Free
Gates open at 9.30am.
