Easts Tigers won through to the Queensland Cup final on Sunday afternoon with a 30-12 win over rivals Wynnum Manly Seagulls in front of a packed Langlands Park.
The uneven scoreline was perhaps an unfair reflection on what was an incredibly hard fought game, but the Tigers were able to make the most of their chances and deserved their win as they defended resolutely.
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Wynnum capitulated in defence to concede six tries to one.
After a tight first half finished 6-6, Easts sparked the game into life with two quick tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza. The Tigers defence then dealt with waves of an increasingly frustrated Wynnum attack and made the most of their opportunities to pull away and book their place at Suncorp Stadium next weekend against the Northern Pride.
This was the two team’s third meeting in four weeks, and it was a case of familiarity breeding contempt, or at least apprehension, as the two sides played out a tight, scoreless opening half hour.
A capacity crowd of nearly 5000 watched on in the warm Brisbane sun as Wynnum, backed by a strong contingent of away fans who helped to create a festival atmosphere, just edged the opening exchanges. The visitor’s pressure paid off when NRL-bound hooker Jake Granville broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute.
Wynnum kept up the pressure towards the end of the half, but a loose pass found its way into Tigers halfback Cody Walker’s hands, and he sprinted 90 metres down the line. With a difficult conversion scored from the sideline, the two teams went into the sheds level at the break.
The Tigers came out firing in the second half, and Walker scored his second just two minutes in. Another successful goal from Donald Malone extended the lead, stunning the Seagulls.
It got worse for the Seagulls just a few minutes later, as the Tigers made the most of the shift in momentum. Centre Shane Neumann scored in the corner after the defence failed to see the ball dead and Easts were on their way to the final.
The Seagulls tried to hit back, but strong defence and costly errors held the score at 16-6, until a precision cross-field kick from Walker was claimed in the air by Richie Kenner, who shoved the weak tackle aside and crossed for another score.
That try seemed to break the will of Wynnum, and Easts didn’t show any mercy. Malone got in on the act and scored from dummy half, converting his own score to push the score out to 26-6 and Tommy Butterfield shrugged aside three tacklers to round off the Tigers scoring.
New North Queensland signing Granville added a consolation try for Wynnum but the match was over as a contest by then, finishing 30-12 as the Tigers look forward to one more final week of footy this season.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
That's good to know Johnno, I'll keep my eyes open for any matches next season.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sadly the Tigers may lose 3 players both half backs plus a defensive forward to the judiciary. Organization will be a problem.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Well my son got the Man of the Match, so I am a great fan of the intrust Super Cup, that game yesterday, Wynnum looked after Munster, they made sure he was put on the ground but by concentrating on The Munster they left space for other players. The thing I liked about East was the way that their non NRL contracted players excelled as Trigger (the Coach) said, his core players but the real beauty was to shut up the Wynnum supporters.
kiwiinoz
Guest
Q cup this year has been great. Really good comp up here. Loving the footy on Sunday arvo, miss it being on Saturday ABC though!! PNG Hunters looking good and my Sunshine Coast team will hopefully do well out of an alignment with Melbourne.
Brin Paulsen
Roar Guru
Great article Simon. Was a top afternoon out at Langlands, doesn't get much better than perfect sunshine, $4 cans and a massive crowd. Next week's GF should be a cracker. I have to agree with Scott Woodward too; Cam Munster looks to be some player. Certainly wouldn't be out of place in the 1 for the Storm in the future.
Johnno
Guest
Simon Sometimes in the NRL pre-season they have hit outs vs NSW/QLD Cup sides.
Johnno
Guest
Arnold Agreed but the NRL doest stand for national not the NSWRL-NSW Cup. QLD have to have involvment on the so-called national day for RL. I wouldn't object if they played the QLD Cup GF on the saturday before the NRL GF, play it at suncorp at televise it, then it would be suitable compensation.
jamesb
Guest
Yet many people think that the NRL can't expand due to a lack of talent coming through. I have only seen the Q Cup on replays whenever I'm at the gym. Standard looks alright.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Thanks guys, it was a really great day and as you have all mentioned, the standard has been really high throughout the competition all season. I don't think the top teams playing in the Queensland Cup would be shown up by many NRL teams, it would be amazing to see them tested against each other some time...
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
100% agreed. No video ref, no hold-up of play, hardly any wrestle. Good footy, and a great season this year for the Knights reggies! Although the NSW/QLD cup Grand Final sounds interesting, I'm not happy the way they have demoted the NSW Cup Grand Final from the actual GF day experience.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Absolutely Scott, it was very impressive, especially given as the defence was so strong. Seeing Cam Munster play in the NRL would be great, it's awesome to see players step up. Although having said that, there wouldn't have been many players who looked out of place in the NRL on the park yesterday.
Johnno
Guest
NSW/QLD cup is more fun than the NRL, at least there is a bit of biff and shoulder charges and rough play. Still looks like RL.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
It was a great day and fantastic to see the crowds at Q Cup this season no doubt inspired by the great footy & the advent of the PNG Hunters.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
you counted the crowd? Or reading the lazy courier mail journo's assumption there was 'over 3,000'?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi Simon, Given their key organiser Jacob Fauid went off hurt early the win was outstanding. Cam Munster is very special and he may get to start for the Storm given Billy Slater is having an operation today.
Dave
Guest
Agree Jay C - great read and it's fantastic to see someone covering the Qcup. I was out there at Langlands yesterday and it didn't feel much like a second tier comp. Huge crowd and quality football.
Pete
Guest
There was only around 3000 people there and Walker scored his try of a grubber not a loose pass.
Rugby stu
Guest
Suncorp aye, sounds like a plan.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Great read mate. It is excellent to see some QCup content on here. Keep it up!