State team mates will become grand final combatants on Wednesday when the Universities Rugby League Queensland grand final is fought out.
Minor premiers the Griffith Dragons will face the University of Queensland Hounds in a replay of last year’s decider at Davies Park from 7pm.
Nine players who played in the Queensland Universities Residents team that was beaten 20-10 in Sydney last weekend will now tussle for premiership glory.
After a strong semi-final win last night, the Dragons have given themselves high hopes of avenging their last-minute defeat to the Hounds in 2018.
They saw off the plucky Griffith Logan Redbacks 24-6 at the Nathan campus, but not after a fight.
The Dragons led 10-0 after fullback Sean Dermba and Paul Ivan scored in the first 17 minutes, but Logan made it 10-6 at halftime through Kurt Sparey.
The home side got away with tries to Junior Awute and Corey Evans straight after the break, a four-pointer to prop Connor Bohan finishing it off with five minutes left.
Meanwhile at Graceville, the UQ Hounds and QUT Trouts went tit-for-tat in an enthralling contest before the Hounds earned the right to defend their crown with an 18-16 victory.
Mitch McPherson opened the scoring for the Hounds after five minutes, but two tries to electric fullback Jack Hine put QUT in front.
The first came from some clever dummy-half play from Hayden Bartlett, while the second was a 40-metre individual effort from Hine himself to make it 10-6.
Iuean Fuller tied it up in the 31st minute with a try before a Mitch Wells penalty goal poked the Hounds 12-10 in front at the break.
Oscar Pannifex gave his side an eight-point buffer when he raced over midway through the second half, Wells banging a sideline conversion that would ultimately prove the difference.
Prop Max Sellars scored for the Trouts to give them hope with 13 minutes remaining, but the Hounds hung on to give themselves a shot at their third-straight premiership under coach Scott Barker.
URLQ semi-finals
Griffith Dragons 24 (Sean Dermba, Paul Ivan, Junior Awute, Corey Evans, Connor Bohan tries; Ivan 2 goals) defeated Griffith Logan Redbacks 6 (Kurt Sparey try; Trent Shield goal) at Griffith Nathan Campus.
UQ Hounds 18 (Mitch McPherson, Iuean Fuller, Oscar Pannifex tries; Mitch Wells 3 goals) defeated QUT Trouts 16 (Jack Hine 2, Max Sellars tries; Tahnae Hunter 2 goals) at Bert St Clair Oval, Graceville.
URLQ grand final
Griffith Dragons v University of Queensland Hounds
Wednesday, September 4 at 7pm – Davies Park, South Brisbane
