The Redcliffe Dolphins have defeated the Mackay Cutters at Kayo Stadium, securing a home final after being at risk of missing the top eight only a fortnight ago.
William Dobson put the Dolphins ahead within 49 seconds, setting the tempo for a dominant Redcliffe win.
Mason Kira eventually put the Cutters on the board early in the second half after the Cutters had conceded 22 unanswered points.
Two more tries to Mackay would reduce the deficit to six points with less than 20 minutes left.
Unfortunately for Mackay, Zac Miles and Dantoray Lui would both cross over late in the match as the Dolphins would hold off a late Cutters comeback.
Redcliffe will host the PNG Hunters this Saturday in an elimination final.
The Norths Devils made light work of the Central Queensland Capras, winning 36-16 at Bishop Park.
On a festive old boys’ day at Bishop Park, the current crop of Devils didn’t let down those before them, winning comfortably and dictating the flow of the game throughout the match.
Devils’ backrower Jackson Shereb was dominant on the edge, crossing for a try and running for 138 metres, breaking ten tackles in the process.
His outside winger, Manase Kaho, was equally damaging – scoring twice and running for 226 metres in a brilliant performance.
The Devils will prepare to play at Bishop Park once again this weekend when they host the Townsville Blackhawks in a qualifying final.
The PNG Hunters dispatched the Northern Pride 40-10 at Barlow Park to book their ticket to the finals.
Poor completion rates hampered the Pride’s attack, while the Hunters proved clinical in the Pride’s own 20 metre area.
The Pride were also unable to contain Hunters’ fullback Sanny Wabo, who finished the day with a hat-trick, 187 metres and 16 tackle breaks.
The Hunters will remain on the road this week, as they venture south to Kayo Stadium to take on the Redcliffe Dolphins in their elimination final.
The Tweed Seagulls have ended their year on a high, upsetting the Townsville Blackhawks 26-14 at Tully Showgrounds.
The Seagulls blitzed the Blackhawks in the opening 20 minutes, racing out to an 18-4 lead through tries from Maia Sands and Malakhi Donovan.
The Blackhawks would score two tries in the final ten minutes; though it would be too little too late as Townsville enter the finals with two wins from their past five matches.
The Blackhawks will take on the Norths Devils at Bishop Park for their qualifying final.
The Souths Logan Magpies ended their 2025 season in style, providing the Davies Park faithful with a memorable 34-16 victory over the Ipswich Jets.
The Magpies would hold the Jets scoreless for 52 minutes, racking up 22 unanswered points in the process.
The Jets would enjoy a brief period of dominance, scoring all three of their tries within 17 minutes – though it wouldn’t be enough to challenge the lead the Magpies had built.
Magpies captain Rory Ferguson led his side from the front, scoring a try and making 14 runs for 127 metres in addition to his stout defensive performance where he made 30 tackles without a miss.
Despite the loss, the Jets still did enough to hold onto their spot in the top eight, as they prepare to drive north to the Sunshine Coast to take on the Falcons.
The Burleigh Bears have won the premiership in emphatic fashion, thumping the Sunshine Coast Falcons 38-14 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Bears scored 28 first half points in a statement opening half.
Bears centre Nicholas O’Meley has been making the most of his opportunities in the Hostplus Cup, scoring six tries in his past four games – including a hat-trick against the Falcons.
Josh Rogers did one better than O’Meley, assisting four tries at five-eighth.
Falcons front rower Cooper Page-Wilson proved a headache for Burleigh’s defence throughout the match, scoring a try and consistently bending the line with each hit up.
Following their victory, the Bears will host the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in their qualifying final while the Falcons will host the Ipswich Jets in their elimination final.
Despite a slow start, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls have defeated the Brisbane Tigers 22-14 at BMD Kougari Oval.
A brain-snap from Ronald Philitoga gifted the Tigers their opening try in the second minute, as Jodeci Baker would strike only three minutes later to put the Tigers up 10-nil after five minutes.
Philitoga would make amends for his earlier mistake, crossing over in the 10th minute for what would be the final points of the first half.
Neither side would be able to gain a marked advantage in the second half, though a try to Ben Farr in the 57th minute would provide the Seagulls with a four-point lead.
Eventually Liam Sutton would cross for Wynnum Manly in the final minute of the match to seal a victory and a top four berth for the Seagulls.
The Wynnum Manly Seagulls will travel to UAA Park this Saturday for their qualifying final against the Burleigh Bears.
ROUND 23 RESULTS
Redcliffe Dolphins 34 def Mackay Cutters 16 at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Norths Devils 36 def Central Queensland Capras 16 at Bishop Park, Brisbane
Papua New Guinea Hunters 40 def Northern Pride 10 at Barlow Park, Cairns
Tweed Seagulls 26 def Townsville Blackhawks 14 at Tully Showgrounds, Tully
Souths Logan Magpies 34 def Ipswich Jets 16 at Davies Park, Brisbane
Burleigh Bears 38 def Sunshine Coast Falcons 14 at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 22 def Brisbane Tigers 14 at BMD Kougari, Brisbane
