Statewide score wrap: Retiring Backo leaves champs Centrals 'in good hands'

Retiring a winner is always sweet, but for Centrals Tigers co-captain Tahleah Backo, it has always been about setting up the flood of young girls coming through the ranks to reach their potential.

The Tigers broke Western Lions' run of four straight titles with a 22-10 win in Sunday's grand final at Townsville Sports Reserve, avenging for defeats in the past two deciders.

Backo's fellow co-captain, lock Jordii Mahendrajah, scored a double to add to her competition leading tryscorer feats.

"I would have liked to hang up the boots last year, but we lost, so I just had that burn to want to play one last year, because we thought we really should have won but robbed ourselves in the last few minutes," Backo said.

"I decided to go one more year even though my body probably couldn't.

"But for me, more than anything, it was just about bringing our next lot of girls through. I did say to Bec (coach Rebecca Petersen) at the start of the year I'd play when needed, and it turned out being just about every game.

"It has been exciting to watch Centrals' up and coming girls, the youth here, it's pretty awesome to see it's in good hands going forward."

One of those emerging talents has been second rower Gagie Mackie Namok, who was named player of the match in the victory.

"Gags has just been workhorse this whole year. Last year she didn't get much game time, Bec has just come in and had that belief in her and gone to another level this year and just backed herself," Backo said.

"In her spare time she's at the gym, putting up Stories, doing extras and is committed and it paid off for us.

"She is someone who knows there's things she can improve on and is always asking questions and it has paid off for her I think, and she's still young and it's going to be exciting to see what else she can do."

Mackie Namok returned the compliment and said it was rewarding to see Backo go out on a high after her efforts on the field and off it to support her.

"It made it very much more emotional for us as a team and for me, she's a great sister-in-law, a great mentor," she said.

"She's very humble and whether you play with or against her, she respects both sides, and she sees each player as a great individual and sees them at their full potential."

The second rower said the grand final itself was a good turnaround from going down to Western Lions in the qualifying final two weeks earlier.

"In think the (preliminary final) game against Burdekin helped us reconnect and focus what we needed to focus on as a team and we prepared throughout the week and I guess that preparation and training paid off and came as a reward for us

"Especially against a team like Western Lions who have won it throughout the years, it was so rewarding, and being player of the final, I just didn't expect it.

"Our captains did really good jobs leading into the grand final. There were a lot of girls very nervous about going against a team like Lions."

The premiership win comes in addition to a Queensland Country call-up for Mackie Namok for the XXXX Queensland City v Country on September 22, where she will play alongside her Tigers teammates Mateeka Neilson and co-captain Jordii Mahendrarajah and others from the XXXX Foley Shield winning Townsville team.

"I was very excited when John (Buttigieg, Country Women coach) gave me the call. Even though I didn't get the call-up first up, I was still willing to prove myself on and off the field that I really deserved my name in that team," Mackie Namok said.

"I've been training really hard throughout the season with the support of the girls in the club. All the hard work is paying off and to see it paying off, it definitely means a lot to me and my friends and family."

In the other Rugby League Townsville & District grand finals, Souths Bulls won A grade and reserve grade men's in their second year back in the competition, while Brothers won the under 20s.

All remaining community rugby league grand finals take place across the weekend of September 14-15.

The XXXX Queensland City v Country matches take place at QRL Grand Final Day, presented by Ford at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe on Sunday, September 22, with women's at 1.30pm and men's at 3.30pm.

Tickets can be purchased here, while both matches will also be available to view live on Qplus.tv.

QRL North

Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade

Grand final

Souths Bulls 34 def Western Lions 24

Rugby League Townsville & District Open Women

Grand final

Centrals Tigers 22 def Western Lions 10

Rugby League Mackay & District Men's A grade

Grand final

Sarina Crocodiles 16 def Mackay Brothers 14

Rugby League Mackay & District Women's A grade

Grand final

Mackay Brothers 20 def Mackay Magpies 0

FNQRL Men's A grade

Grand final

Cairns Brothers 18 def Ivanhoes Knights 14

QRL South East region

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade

Preliminary final

Wynnum Manly Juniors 40 def Redcliffe Juniors 18

Next week: Grand final - West Brisbane Panthers v Redcliffe Juniors

Rugby League Gold Coast Earth Fleet Cup A grade

Preliminary final

Currumbin Eagles 20 def Burleigh Bears 18

Next week: Grand final - Tugun Seahawks v Currumbin Eagles

Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup

Preliminary final

Redbank Plains Bears 22 def Ipswich Jets 20

Next week: Grand final - Brothers Ipswich v Redbank Plains Bears

QRL Central region

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's Competition

Grand final

Isis Devils 26 def Gladstone Wallabys 22

Bundaberg Rugby League Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Past Brothers 24 def Wallaroos 22

Next week: Grand final - Waves Tigers v Past Brothers

Central Highlands Rugby League Emerald Industrial Supplies Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Clermont Bears 28 def Middlemount Panthers 24

Next week: Grand final - Bluff Rabbitohs v Clermont Bears

Central Highlands Rugby League Sentinel Group Open Women

Preliminary final

Bluff Rabbitohs 20 def Dysart Bulls 10

Next week: Grand final - Emerald Tigers v Bluff Rabbitohs

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Beerwah Bulldogs 16 def Noosa Pirates 14

Next week: Grand final - Coolum Colts v Beerwah Bulldogs

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Gatton Hawks 38 def Warwick Cowboys 24

Next week: Grand final - Valleys Roosters v Gatton Hawks

Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club Open Women

Preliminary final

Highfields Eagles 28 def Valleys Roosters 6

Next week: Grand final - Gatton Hawks v Highfields Eagles