Former Cup star Liam Georgetown was instrumental in the Burpengary Jets' 48-18 win over Wests Mitchelton Panthers in the Rugby League Brisbane Men's Open 2 competition on Saturday.
With a healthy crowd on hand at the Burpengary Sports Ground, Georgetown’s experience with Redcliffe Dolphins was the catalyst that sent the Panthers home with their tail between their legs in the one-sided affair.
It would be Georgetown who would get the first points of the afternoon under way in the third minute of play, chiming onto a well delivered pass by Oakley Pakeho, who sent the one-time Penrith Panther under the sticks.
With a host of former Redcliffe players - most of the team having played Colts together - in the Jets side, it would be another former NRL player who set up their next try.
Former Rabbitohs, Titans and Broncos half Luke Capewell’s superb cut out pass to centre Roddy Faaapito sent the powerful centre over to further increase the scoreline.
While the Panthers were trying their best to contain the Jets big men in Junior Peni, Misi Pauga and Drae Aiono, it set the tone for the Jets next try when Capewell burst through a yawning gap to slide in under the posts.
The Panthers were trying hard in gaining momentum; however, it was Georgetown tearing the Panthers to shreds on the fringes that saw the five eighth crossed for his second of the afternoon going in untouched under the sticks.
Some patchy flashes of brilliance by Panthers' Jake Morris had the visitors breathing some new life, however the nightmare continued when in the 29th minute, Georgetown lobbed a pass over the top to his winger Corey Gardiner who crashed over in the corner.
With a minute left on the clock in the first half, the Panthers did finally get on the scoreboard when five-eighth Morris stepped his way through the Jets monster forward pack, to touch down out wide.
With the resumption of the second half, it didn’t take the Jets long to continue their trsycoring onslaught.
Faapito was proving to be a handful in the centres for the Panthers defence and he made them pay in the 44th minute selling a dummy to go in extending the Jets lead 38-6.
To their credit, the Panthers forwards never gave up.
Ryan Herdson and captain Zac Ryan were outstanding in a losing side tackling anything that came their way.
However, you just cannot beat experience and with the Liam Georgetown show still in full effect, he crossed yet again for another superb try to complete his hat-trick blitzing the defence to go in untouched under the sticks.
Whilst the Jets big men were tiring at the back end of the game, the Panthers seized the moment for two late tries through captain Ryan and Reys Tiddy, who added some respectability to the scoreline.
Burpengary did have the last say however when Masae Coutts strolled in for the easiest tries to round off what was a dominant display.
The win moved Burpengary into fifth place on the ladder in the 10-team competition.
The Jets play away to Pine Central Holy Spirit this Saturday, while Wests Mitchelton will look to climb off the bottom of the ladder at home to Brisbane Natives.
