XXXX Chairman's Challenge: Brisbane celebrates in classy win

Author: Jacob Grams QRL community content producer
Timestamp: Sun 30 Apr 2023, 04:58 PM

Brisbane Red has taken the XXXX Chairman's Challenge title away from Gold Coast Vikings with a 26-20 win in the deciding game at North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday.

Winger Jack Stafford scored a first half double for Brisbane, one with a spectacular put down in the corner, before a Mitchell Butler two-point field goal on the stroke of half time gave them a 12-10 lead at the break.

Queille Murray finished with a hat-trick for the Vikings but it was all in vain.

Brisbane Red coach Darren Ferricks put the win down to good preparation, good rotations, strong defence and some luck.

"We knew playing Gold Coast we had to play the full 70 minutes, so it was really pleasing," he said.

Brisbane Red v Gold Coast Vikings. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

"Defence won us the tournament. We let them back into it with a couple of errors, but we did defend them.

"All the forwards were outstanding in the middle, and our halves.

"One person who was outstanding today and yesterday was our winger Jack Stafford, his carries and his metres and stuff like that, he had a really good carnival."

Ferricks said the squad had goals to win the XXXX League Championship and was looking forward to a semi-final showdown against Toowoomba.

Gold Coast Vikings celebrate one of their two first half tries. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

Brisbane Red halfback Hayden Herbert, who was awarded Player of the Challenge, said the players maintained the right attitude despite a few mistakes early on and felt energised by the half time lead.

"We started pretty slow with errors and penalties but found our groove at the back of the half and came in at half time in front, which was good," he said.

"Going in in front - because we knew we didn't play our best footy - in the second half we had a bit of energy and everyone was clicking.

"I think our defence won us the game to be honest. Our attack came off us running hard but our defence was really good."

Gold Coast Vikings claimed the Under 20 title, sealing in style with a 52-16 win over Ipswich, including a hat-trick to Under 20 Player of the Challenge Izack Smith, despite missing their captain Keith Baker due to a head knock he suffered in their 28-16 win over Brisbane on Saturday.

Vikings coach Paul Kuhnemann said "probably never coached a young group that I've been so impressed with" in terms of their attitude, respect and dedication.

"I just think they're really good kids. They all came with a great attitude. We only had a two-week preparation with them so we didn't know what to expect," he said.

Gold Coast Vikings Under 20. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

"They scored some great tries, some of the best tries I've ever seen this weekend, some end-to-end stuff, yesterday and today, it was tremendous, but it all comes down to their attitude and effort, so it was good.

"We had speed on the edges so we just tried to get the ball to them and expose the edges and work from there."

Kuhnemann praised the work of fullback Izack Smith, prop Oliver Skyes, hooker Kade Isemonger and interchange player Phoenix Hunt for their part in the victory.