The Redcliffe Dolphins have secured the Queensland Cup with a hard-fought 36-22 win over a brave Easts Tigers outfit at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Fullback Trai Fuller starred for the home side, scoring two tries as the minor premiers claimed their first title since 2006.
Redcliffe opened the scoring through a penalty goal but it was the Tigers who crossed over for the first try of the afternoon through Conor Carey in the 11th minute.
The Dolphins quickly hit back when Fuller sliced over for his first four-pointer and they soon extended their lead to six when Jeremy Hawkins snatched a Cameron Cullen bomb in the 26th minute.
After surrendering an early lead, the Tigers suffered another setback as five-eighth Billy Walters was helped from the field with a knee injury.
The Dolphins proceeded to push out to an eight-point lead when Kotoni Staggs nailed his third conversion of the afternoon.
But just as they appeared to be cruising to a comfortable halftime lead, Redcliffe conceded a late try to Marion Seve who soared over out wide in the 38th minute.
Errors cruelled the Tigers’ chances in the second forty and they immediately found themselves on the backfoot when Fuller stepped through the Easts’ defence to post an early double.
The Dolphins went further ahead in the 47th minute when Staggs pounced onto a brilliant bat back by Aaron Whitchurch.
Yet the Tigers refused to go away, reducing the deficit back to 10 points when Jake Foster crashed over in the 56th minute off a lovely short ball from Tom Butterfield.
In a seesawing affair, the Dolphins reasserted their dominance when Nathan Watts steamed onto a Bryce Donovan grubber before Tigers fullback Scott Drinkwater immediately responded with a try of his own off the following set.
Despite their bravery, Easts couldn’t get it done in the end, with a 79th minute try to Dolphins centre Tom Opacic securing the victory.
Redcliffe now travel to ANZ Stadium next Sunday to take on the Bulldogs in the State Championship, with kick-off advertised for 3:40pm (AEST).
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