Hostplus Cup heavyweights the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Redcliffe Dolphins are through to the preliminary final weekend after hard-fought victories in the opening week of the finals.
The Falcons prevailed 20-14 against a spirted Burleigh Bears, who stunned the fancied Falcons with two early tries from winger Troy Leo.
However, the Sunshine Coast rallied in the second half on the back of a Harrison McIndoe double to seal the win.
All is not lost for the Bears, who will now aim up against the Townsville Blackhawks this Saturday.
Townsville is riding a wave of momentum after beating the Brisbane Tigers 58-34 in a match that produced some scintillating attacking play from both teams.
The winner of the Bears and Blackhawks clash will book a preliminary final showdown against the Redcliffe Dolphins, who got their finals campaign off to a strong with a 20-16 win over the Central Queensland Capras.
The Capras remain alive courtesy of their fourth-placed finish and will now look to atone against the Ipswich Jets, who eliminated the Mackay Cutters from the premiership race with a 32-18 victory.
A preliminary final clash against the Falcons awaits the winner of the Capras / Jets semi-final.
Watch every game live and free on Qplus, courtesy of National Storage.
Saturday, September 12
SF1: Burleigh Bears v Townsville Blackhawks @ UAA Park, 2:10pm
Sunday, September 13
SF2: Central Queensland Capras v Ipswich Jets @ Aurizon Stadium, 2:10pm
Week 1 Finals results
QF1 - Sunshine Coast Falcons 20 (Harrison McIndoe 2, Flynn Camilleri, Kane Jackson tries; Josh Lynn 2 goals) def Burleigh Bears 14 (Troy Leo 2 tries; Josh Rogers 3 goals)
EF1 - Townsville Blackhawks 58 (Edward Hampson 3, Dudley Dotoi 2, Saimone Ahomana 2, Lennix Tovo, Wiremu Greig, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Creedence Toia tries; Lennix Tovo 7 goals) def Brisbane Tigers 34 (Esom Ioka 3, Jarrett Subloo, Oliva Smith, Caleb Daunt tries; Zach Lamont 5 goals)
QF2 - Redcliffe Dolphins 20 (Steven Numambo, Jude Saldanha, Brent Woolf, Trai Fuller tries; Joshua James 2 goals) def Central Queensland Capras 16 (Melino Fineanganofo 2, Connor Guley tries; Trey Brown 2 goals)
EF2 - Ipswich Jets 32 (Brenton Baira, Julian Christian, Jack Natapu, Tony Francis, Max Feagai, tries; Brenton Baira 6 goals) def Mackay Cutters 18 (Liam Sutton 2, Mason Barber, Luke Pietzner, tries; Liam Sutton goal)
