Two-time defending champions Past Brothers Bundaberg started their quest for a hat-trick of premierships in the best way possible, with a 36-26 victory over Wests Panthers in their Round 1 clash.
The result on Saturday, March 26 was a stark reversal of the outcome of last year's Bundaberg A Grade season opener, in which the Panthers purred to a 46-22 upset.
This year, the new-look Panthers welcomed back junior product Steven Bernstrom from the Hostplus Cup, but one of their best was electrifying centre Bruce Ikamanu.
However, Brothers simply had too many guns for them, with imposing fullback Tyrell Priestley - who was their 2021 joint player of the year - taking out the players’ player award with a two-try performance.
Blockbusting second rower Royce Blair - who took out the Les Somerville Medal for the grand final best and fairest - also picked up where he left off by taking out their player of the match award.
The scorelines of the other two matches were remarkably similar to 12 months earlier, with Hervey Bay Seagulls coming back from a 22-6 deficit with 15 minutes remaining to clinch a 22-22 draw with Waves Tigers.
The draw came through a conversion after the fulltime siren to 19-year-old halfback David Woodbridge - the same man who kicked a last-minute field goal to snatch a 23-22 victory over the Tigers last year.
Meanwhile, Easts Magpies - who had outgunned Wallaroos 52-32 last year with Andreas Nona among the stars - again put the 2021 wooden spooners to the sword, with halfback Nona orchestrating the 56-18 win, scoring two tries and kickingfive goals in a signature high-class display.
The Waves side included three former Panthers stars - prolific scoring centre Jensen Deamer, livewire halfback Brendan Grills and powerhouse forward Lachlan Patterson - as well as young club prodigies, Lachlan Dullaway and Jacob O’Shea.
The Tigers also looked good as a team, and were hailed the winners when they opened up a 16-point lead on the hour, but the Seagulls showed great character to snatch the draw from the jaws of defeat.
After leading Brothers 14-4 at halftime in last year's preliminary final before losing 34-14, they are regarded by many as the “dark horses” for the crown.
Main image: Tyrell Priestley scored two tries and was players’ player while Royce Blair was man of the match as Past Brothers toughed out a 36-26 victory over Wests Panthers in the first round of the Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership on Saturday March 26.
Bundaberg A Grade Round 1 results
Waves Tigers 22 (Lachlan Dullaway, Reece Maughan, Dan McLennan, Cody Maughan tries; Layton Chambers 3 goals) drew Hervey Bay Seagulls 22 (Malachi Lawton, Jeremiah Pati, Dion Bunyan, Tiko Hooper tries; David Woodbridge 3 goals)
Easts Tigers 56 (Delroy Tanner 2, Andreas Nona 2, Danny Moran, Lachlan Price, Bennett Ooms-Otineru, Justyn Porter, Matthew Craven, Caleb Van Lawick, Dennis Johnson tries; Andreas Nona 5, Dylan Taylor) d Wallaroos 18 (Bailey Robertson 2, Jackson Gouge, Jorden Kemble tries; Jackson Gouge goal)
Past Brothers 36 (Tyrell Priestley 2, Mitchell Clayton, Tim Cole, Royce Blair, Zach Hansen tries; Zak Bainbridge 6 goals) d Wests Panthers 26 (Bruce Ikamanu 3, Chris Robinson, Tyson Douglas tries; Chris Robinson 3 goals)
