Whitsunday Brahmans caused an upset after a dominant 38-4 win over defending premiers Wests Tigers to claim the Mackay & District A Grade title on grand final day held at BB Print Stadium last Sunday.
After holding a convincing 24-0 lead at halftime, Whitsunday only conceded one try in the second half.
The Brahmans had a consistent season with only two upset losses to Souths Sharks and Wests Tigers and finished as minor premiers.
Seven clubs were represented in the grand final day which provided fans with a fantastic display of rugby league.
The women's final had fans on the edge of their seats with Mackay Brothers pipping Moranbah Miners in a two-point thriller.
It was a battle of competition heavyweights Souths Sharks and Wests Tigers in the Reserve grade final which saw Souths prevail in an upset win over ladder leaders Wests.
In the Under 19 match, the Magpies, who were competition leaders, continued their good form and went all the way to win the premiership over Sarina.
In his first season as Brahmans head coach Tye Ingebrigtsen said he couldn’t be prouder of his players.
Ingebrigsten paid homage to Brahmans captain and local junior, Darcy Wright who he said was the unsung hero of the game, as not many people were aware he played the whole game with a broken wrist which he sustained in week two of the semi finals.
"The individual performance by our leader Wright could go down as one of the most courageous performances of all time from a Brahmans player," Ingebrigtsen said.
"There was no better feeling then returning to Les Stagg Oval after the game on Sunday night to be greeted by a massive crowd of supporters and celebrating what has truly been an amazing season."
In 2018, Ingebrigtsen coached the Northern Pride team in the Under 18 Mal Meninga Cup and was Intrust Super Cup assistant coach.
Prior to that, he coached the Hervey Bay Seagulls to two minor premierships and a premiership in 2016 which broke a 15 year drought for the club.
For many years, his father Craig Ingebrigtsen was a former coach of the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Easts Tigers in Intrust Super Cup, so some say the coaching genetics are there.
"My goal in the near future is to hopefully follow in my father's footsteps and get a gig as a coach in the Intrust Super Cup competition," Ingebrigtsen said.
A Grade
Whitsunday 38 (Tries: Byron Taylor 2, Augustus Rangihuna 1, Karmon Power 1, Clint Bromham 1, Darcy Wright 1, Ash Little, Tyson Skyring 1. Goals: Augustus Rangihuna 3) defeated Wests 4 (Tries: Blake Atherton 1)
Women’s A Grade
Brothers 18 (Tries: Katie Green 2, Maggie Brosnan 2; Goals: Cass Adlam 1) defeated Moranbah 16 (Tries: Levinia Robinson 1, Fetau Unite 2; Goals: Levinia Robinson 2)
Reserve Grade
Souths 32 (Tries: Blake Draber 2, Aaron Hughes 1, Tyrone Tootell 1, Jordan Talanoa 1. Goals: Aaron Hughes 6) defeated Wests 26 (Tries: Nick Baker 1, Brad Lovern 1, Tom Edwards 1, Rikki Barba 1, Jacob Nahow 1; Goals: Byron Smith 3)
Under 19s
Magpies 24 (Tries: Brock Campbell 1, Luke Webley 2, Ikey Mooka 1; Goals: Bailey Black 4) defeated Sarina 10 (Tries: Beau Brownsey 1, Ethan Grimmond 1. Goals: Callum Street 1)
Main image: Whitsunday Brahmans claimed the Mackay District Rugby League A grade premiership after a dominant win over defending premiers Wests.
