Wests Tigers Mackay are the 2020 Components Only A Grade premiers after an emphatic 42-18 grand final victory over Townsville Brothers at Mackay Junior Rugby League Grounds yesterday.
Despite close score lines in the previous two meetings between the clubs, Wests gained the ascendancy in the first half and never surrendered it, putting on their most complete performance of the season when it mattered most.
Townsville got off to a fast start when the ball spilt free from a Wests attacker and into the arms of five-eighth Ty Carruci, who streaked away down the right touchline to score in the opening set of the match.
Wests found a response straight away off the back of a scrum feed with Kimi Hemopo steaming through a gap to dot down on the right flank.
They then hit the front after a charge down from Jack Brock set them up in great field position - fullback Jake Thornton taking advantage of slick ball movement down the short side to score down the left edge.
The momentum was all the minor premiers' way as they extended their lead further a short time later when centre Kurt Wiltshire busted free from midfield to touch down under the sticks and give his side an eight-point advantage.
The Tigers continued their first half assault with Kellen Jenner latching on to a short ball to give Wests their fourth try of the night.
Tom Chester hit back for Brothers after Wests were pinged for a penalty deep in their own half; the halfback slipping through the grasp of a tackler and scoring under the posts.
Flashy ball movement from Wests saw them push further in front with Thornton bagging his second try of the night as he ran onto a neat pass from his inside man, allowing them to take a handy 26-12 lead into half-time.
Some ad-lib football would see the Tigers tighten their grip on the contest further in the second half when Dan Boyd ran onto a perfectly-weighted grubber kick through the Brothers defensive line to score beside the posts.
Wests then put the game beyond doubt with their seventh try of the game when a bomb kick was allowed to bounce by the Townsville defence, seeing Wiltshire snatch the ball and score his second try of the game in the left corner.
Mitch Hall crossed for a consolation try for the Brethren as he burrowed his way over to score, before Jenner charged onto a short ball near the posts to score his second try and add the cherries on top of a stellar performance, beginning Wests’ premiership celebrations.
Brock couldn't be happier with the result.
“We talked about winning the game through the middle, and I think we did that tonight,” the prop forward said post-game.
“Our loss [to Townsville] in the semi really woke us up.
"We started well and wanted to come out and play the full 80 minutes.
“All year we spoke about building [as a club] to be in the grand final.
"The Wests boys have been unreal... I couldn’t be happier.”
The win is the club's second title in three years, avenging last year's loss to Whitsunday Brahmans.
