THE Griffith Logan Redbacks have re-ignited their Universities Rugby League Queensland premiership hopes with a surprise upset of the University of Queensland Hounds.
The Redbacks travelled to St Lucia on Wednesday night knowing a loss would end their hopes of qualifying for the finals.
But a 20-12 boilover has put them in sight of finals football.
The Redbacks now must beat ACU in their final-round home game next week to sneak into the top four, with a superior points differential in their favour.
But ACU will be no easy task after they all but wrapped up third spot on the ladder with a 26-20 defeat of the QUT Trouts.
Brothers Connor and Declan Morrissy combined for three tries as ACU ensured they would play in the finals in 2018.
The Griffith Gold Coast Panthers still sit in fourth spot despite suffering a 50-4 hammering at the hands of ladder leaders Griffith Dragons.
Sean Dermba, Adam Jessup and Kyle Jones all scored twice as the Dragons took a firm grip on the URLQ minor premiership.
The Panthers will have to beat the UQ Hounds on Wednesday or hope the Redbacks go down to ACU if the Gold Coast team is to make the play-offs.
ROUND 9 RESULTS
ACU 26 (Connor Morrissy 2, Declan Morrissy, Lachlan Quarmby tries; Isaac Goodwin 5 goals) defeated QUT Trouts 20 (Thomas McCann, Jack Hine, Hayden Bartlett, Owen Williams tries; Nick Trevisol, Patrick Gainey goals) at ACU Banyo Campus.
GRIFFITH DRAGONS 50 (Sean Dermba 2, Kyle Jones 2, Adam Jessup 2, Dean Sheppard, Jeremy McKay, Jordan Perese tries; Sheppard 7 goals) defeated GRIFFITH GOLD COAST PANTHERS 4 (Jack Johnson try) at Griffith Nathan Campus.
GRIFFITH LOGAN REDBACKS 20 (Cris Afamasaga, Trent Shield, Ben Kelly, Wade Hyland tries; Shield 2 goals) defeated UQ HOUNDS 12 (Brayden Lamb, Mitchell McPherson tries; Mitchell Wells 2 goals) at UQ ST Lucia Campus.
URLQ LADDER
23 points - Griffith Dragons (+148)
21 points - UQ Hounds (+87)
19 points - ACU (-11)
17 points - Griffith GC Panthers (-106)
15 points - Griffith Logan Redbacks (-24)
13 points - QUT Trouts (-94)
