Round 16 Saturday wrap: Falcons beat ladder leaders Bears

Author: Jorja Brinums QRL content producer
Timestamp: Sat 1 Jul 2023, 07:13 PM

Passion and pride were at the forefront of Sunshine Coast Falcons' win over Burleigh Bears in the first BMD Indigenous Round clash.

The Falcons struck first, taking a two-try lead early, but it was the Bears who led 14-10 at half-time. Three second half tries to the Falcons saw them claim the two points at UAA Park.

Falcons coach Brad Henderson said he was very pleased with his side's discipline in Round 16.

"That was very tough, but really enjoyable... I'm a very happy coach," Henderson said.

"It was pretty physical and there was a bit of emotion in it. That's always the case when you play Burleigh... they're an aggressive team and they get in your head as well.

"Always gets a bit colourful at times but I felt our discipline was pretty good and I thought we were definitely the better team."

Henderson said Grant Anderson, on the right wing, "was enormous for us", fullback Sua Faalogo was also very impressive at fullback and captain Sam Burns was "massive for us".

"It's probably been a while since I've been really happy with my complete 17 so it's nice to be able to say that I am," Henderson said.

Round 16 - Round 16 - Saturday 1 Jul

Full Time

Bears

Falcons

Venue: UAA Park, Gold Coast

Team Stats Play by Play

"I think everyone did their job and did their job to full effect today and I'm proud of that."

Henderson said at the end of the day, the game was between two good teams with plenty of history and the passion to win was evident.

"I felt like we held our discipline really well and and we were good enough to get the win so I'm stoked," Henderson said.

"We really needed the two points, to state the obvious.

"We do better against top eight teams than we do against bottom eight teams which shows we've got a really good team but mentally, we've just got to get our head around our work and do better."

Bears captain Sami Sauiluma, watching from the sideline, said it was tough watching such a close game.

"It was close... a tight game that could've gone either way but we fell away there at the end and they pounced on their last opportunity... intercept and ran the length," Sauiluma said.

"It was a good contest. We've always had a bit of a rivalry since the 2019 semi-final. Still simmers."

Sauiluma said Keano Kini continued to be "a bit of a shining light for us", adding he was one of the best again against the Falcons.