Round 16 Sunday wrap: Blackhawks push for top eight with Dolphins draw

Payne was happy with the resilience his team showed, especially after they were left with just 12 on the field from the opening minute of the game, when forward Jack Gosiewski was sent off for the match for a high shot on Dolphins five-eighth Cameron Cullen.

They also had Taniela Sadrugu and Gehamat Shibasaki on limited minutes as they made their returns from injury, while forward Cade Maloney was a late withdrawal yesterday with illness.

"When you have a draw, it’s always mixed emotions but given the fact we played pretty much the whole game with 12, it still feels like we got something out of it," Payne said.

"We’d certainly take one point rather than no points at the moment. We’re really scrapping for every point we can.

"For us, it was about playing the game the right way and I thought we really had to do it considering we had 12. It was a big step forward for us.

"We were tested, we were put under pressure and there’s a lot of positives to take out of it."

Payne was particularly impressed with winger Kyle Feldt, who came back to the Blackhawks from the North Queensland Cowboys, and prop Sam McIntyre who had to play 80 minutes through the middle.

He said the key now was to understand they have limited chances left to make this year's finals series and they need to capitalise on the momentum from the draw with Redcliffe.

"We haven’t given up on the fact that we can play finals," Payne said.

"We know that if we get there, we’ll have to be banking some wins and playing some good footy.

"We know we can do it but there’s a realisation that we’ve got to continue playing well now. If we go back to that inconsistency, that’s it for the season.

"I hope we build off that game and put another strong performance together next week and the week after that."

The Blackhawks will turn their attention now to the Ipswich Jets at North Ipswich Reserve.

Meanwhile, Redcliffe will put their disappointment behind them after letting the win slip through their fingers and move into a Round 17 clash with Tweed.

The match will be the inaugural Liam Hampson Cup, honouring the former Dolphins and Seagulls rake who tragically past last October.

Dolphins skipper Dunamis Lui said it will be one match where he knows every player will go to another level.

"Hampo was a real good man of ours," Lui said.

"He was a big part of our team last year. The boys are really going to feel that emotion, especially heading into the game.

"I know the boys will turn up. It’ll be a big week for us."

Elsewhere in BMD Indigenous Round, the Souths Logan Magpies returned to the top of the table with a convincing 48-22 victory over the Western Clydesdales at Davies Park.

The Mackay Cutters notched up their second win of the season, with an entertaining 36-20 triumph over the Ipswich Jets.

And in the final game of the round, Tweed returned to the winner's circle with a 30-16 scoreline over Norths Devils.

For a wrap of all Saturday matches, click here.