Grand final thriller ends in heartbreak for Dolphins
The Redcliffe Dolphins’ Mal Meninga Cup season has come to an end in devastating scenes, after they lost the premiership decider in golden point extra time to the Burleigh Bears.
In an historic and gritty 75-minute battle at Kayo Stadium on Saturday, the Dolphins lost 18-14 to their Gold Coast opponents.
The match stood at 14-all at fulltime, after hooker Braelan Marsh barrelled his way over the line in a last-ditch, desperate effort to even the scores.
A measured and calm Reeco Kirk then kicked the equalling conversion to send the game into golden point.
The first half of extra time was a tense five minutes, with both teams coming close on multiple occasions to clutching victory.
But, just moments into the second half of golden point, it was the Bears who managed to break through, with Anton Whaiapu claiming the winning moment.
Redcliffe coach Scott Murray was understandably disappointed with the outcome, but could not have been prouder of the effort the Mal Meninga Cup boys showed on home turf.
“The boys showed a lot of character to come back into the game,” he said.
“We hung in there and won some really key moments towards the back end to get it all levelled up.
“We had our chances to win that game. That was one of the most disappointing things and in the end, the boys probably deserved better than what they got.
“But in a grand final, that’s just the way it goes. There’s a winner and a loser and that’s part of the deal.
“I always said to them it’s about the effort and that’s exactly what they showed out there today. I’m proud of the fact they were able to get themselves back in when it looked like it was over.”
With a strong breeze blowing at Kayo Stadium and rain constantly threatening, it was tough conditions to play in, but the Dolphins took the early lead.
They scored the only points of the opening half through centre Seth Carpenter and held that lead for 32 minutes.
The Bears then finally found their way onto the board two minutes into the second half, equalling the scores at 4-all through Disharne Tonihi.
In a testing blow for the Dolphins, the Burleigh winger nabbed his second of the afternoon to give the Bears an 8-4 lead and from here, the match began to see-saw, with Redcliffe winger Callum Bowles crossing in the corner in the 48th minute.
Burleigh hit back just seven minutes later through captain Hayden Watson and with all the momentum going their way, it looked troublesome for Redcliffe before Marsh’s last-minute try.