The Ipswich Jets have blown the Townsville Blackhawks out of the sky in their elimination semi-final 32-12, with Michael Purcell and Marmin Barba in electrifying form.
In a game that was played at breakneck speed and featured plenty of broken play, the sixth-placed Jets triumphed in an environment suited to their strengths against a team that led the Intrust Super Cup for periods throughout the season.
Though the Blackhawks came back with two tries in three minutes in the second half, Ipswich had essentially sealed the result with a 20-0 advantage at halftime.
Freakish Indigenous talents Purcell, Barba, Wes Conlon and Billy McConnachie ended the game by scoring all of the Jets' total.
Purcell was unlucky not to be on a hat-trick before halftime, denied a third try in the space of 27 minutes when he collected a spilt bomb but was pulled up metres short.
His first try came after he backed up centre Isimeeli Hafoka in just the 9th minute and his second came on a beautiful run at full stride from a Mitch Carpenter offload.
The Jets were getting particular fortune through high kicks and Barba added to the tally when Jonathon Reuben and Zach Santo were involved in a mix-up at the back for Townsville.
Normally feted for his running of the ball, Barba was in hot form with the boot as well, slotting four of six goal kicks from out wide.
Townsville entered the game with a disrupted preparation, off the back of news half Zach Dockar-Clay was out for the season.
From the team named on Tuesday, the Blackhawks brought in big guns Jake Marketo, Francis Molo and Jonathon Reuben, moved Bacho Salam to the centres and Shaun Hudson to five-eighth.
However, they lost strike player Jaelen Feeney with what looked a serious left knee injury in the 52nd minute and the odds were stacked against them.
Unbelievable it was shortly after this that the Blackhawks scored their only points for the day.
Andrew Davey sliced through some weak goal-line defence in the 53rd minute, before NRL fringe player Corey Jensen produced a monster run off a tap that carried four defenders across the line in the 56th minute.
Ipswich averted a disaster when the score closed to 20-12, sealing the result with a storming McConnachie try at full stretch and then Wes Conlon pouncing on a grubber in the 74th minute.
Fresh from being named Petero Civoniceva Medal winner as best and fairest in the competition, Jets skipper Nat Neale was named Hastings Deering man of the match in a typically spirited effort.
Full scoring details and final team lists available at QRL Live.
IPSWICH JETS 32 (Michael Purcell 2, Marmin Barba, Billy McConnachie, Wes Conlon tries; Marmin Barba 6 goals) def TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 12 (Andrew Davey, Corey Jensen tries; Levi Dodd 2 goals) at Jack Manski Oval.
