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A tearaway bench hooker who toiled through the grades has given Bulimba Bulldogs the spark to overcome West Brisbane Panthers for the second time this year.

Coming on midway through the first half, diminutive Will Hobbs "changed the game" according to his coach Mitch Edwards, fuelling a 22-20 win over the reigning premiers.

The Bulldogs were up to the challenge from the opening whistle and raced out to a 12-0 lead, which the Panthers ran down to square it up at halftime.

West Brisbane then took a 16-12 lead after halftime, but then Bulimba scored on their next set to tie it up again, then getting it to 22-16 with five minutes remaining.

There were some nervous moments for the home side after they went down to 12 men in the first hit-up off the kickoff - losing a player to injury having used all their interchanges - and the Panthers pounced by crossing the stripe, but the conversion missed and the Bulldogs held on.

Despite just a handful of A grade games under his belt this season, Hobbs helped sway the momentum when he broke the line in his first run out of dummy-half.

Will Hobbs in the clear against Brighton earlier this season. Photo: D&T Sports Photographer/@_dt_sports
Will Hobbs in the clear against Brighton earlier this season. Photo: D&T Sports Photographer/@_dt_sports

A member of Bulimba's under 20s in 2021, he started the season in reserve grade where he scored five tries in two games and soon earned a Hastings Deering Colts contract with Brisbane Tigers.

Hobbs said he "came on and just played footy, did my job and got stuck in there with the boys".

"Mitch (Edwards) just said to not overplay my hand, go out and do my job and when something pops up, have a crack," he said.

"I caught a couple of offloads off the forward and there were a couple of fast play-the-balls to help get us on the front foot for attacking sets.

"It's great to be taking the field with Bulimba, it's a great club, a great culture there.

"I've been working for this for three years at Bulimba and finally being able to have a crack at A grade is really good and then getting a Colts contract is definitely something I've been working towards."

Bulldogs coach Edwards said Hobbs "changed the game for us", rising to the challenge he issued to the players ahead of a game that was crucial to them staying in the mix with the leading teams.

"We were up for it, basically. They're the bullies of the competition, so we wanted to make a point we wouldn't let them come here and bully us," he said.

"It was a really good time to lean on some emotional energy and see how hard we could get up for the big dogs of the competition, knowing that if we want to get up and be able to compete for the title, we can beat them.

"The test for us is to acknowledge we used a bit of emotional energy and see if we can come back up for Wynnum.

"It's a massive game for us. Being the only team to beat Wests in the last two years, doing it twice now, should give us a lot of confidence but Wynnum and Valleys are still two teams you've got to be able to get over and we haven't beaten either of those teams this year either, so it's a big game in the context of us being able to back up, repeat efforts and also understanding playing a top quality side that plays a different brand of footy."

They may need to do it without Hayden Herbert, who could be in doubt with a groin issue, someone Edwards was full of praise for the way he had taken his game to another level in 2023.

Hayden Herbert is congratulated by Bulimba coach Mitch Edwards. Photo: D&T Sports Photographer/@_dt_sports
Hayden Herbert is congratulated by Bulimba coach Mitch Edwards. Photo: D&T Sports Photographer/@_dt_sports

"Hayden's footy has stepped up to probably the best footy he's played since coming to Bulimba. It started at Brighton, he was starting to find line breaks, looking dynamic, adjusting himself well," he said.

"I think what Darren (Ferricks) did with him with Brisbane Red (in the XXXX Chairman's Challenge) gave him a lot of confidence, which has worked well for us."

Main image: Will Hobbs on the ball against Brighton Roosters earlier this season. Photo: D&T Sports Photographer/@_dt_sports

South East region

2023 Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade

Round 9 results

Wynnum Manly Juniors 38 def Carina Juniors 8

Bulimba Bulldogs 22 def West Brisbane Panthers 20

Normanby Hounds 26 def Valleys Diehards 18

Brighton Roosters 44 def Souths Juniors 12

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 West Brisbane Panthers 10 8 2 0 0 156 26
2 Wynnum Manly Juniors 10 7 3 0 0 171 24
3 Valleys Diehards 10 7 3 0 0 115 24
4 Bulimba Bulldogs 10 6 3 1 0 92 23
5 Beenleigh Pride 9 5 4 0 1 -37 22
6 Normanby Hounds 10 5 5 0 0 -36 20
7 Souths Juniors 10 4 5 1 0 -53 19
8 Brighton Roosters 10 4 6 0 0 76 18
9 Carina Juniors 10 2 8 0 0 -108 14
10 Pine Rivers Bears 9 0 8 0 0 -376 8

2023 South East Women's Holcim Cup

Round 7 results

Goodna Eagles def Wynnum Manly Juniors (forfeit)

Runaway Bay Seagulls 24 def Nerang Roosters 10

Ormeau Shearers 46 def Beenleigh Pride 0

Currumbin Eagles 30 def Valleys Diehards 20

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Goodna Eagles 7 7 0 0 0 190 14
2 Ormeau Shearers 7 5 2 0 0 124 10
3 Currumbin Eagles 7 5 2 0 0 42 10
4 Valleys Diehards 7 3 4 0 0 -52 6
5 Beenleigh Pride 7 3 4 0 0 -76 6
6 Nerang Roosters 7 2 5 0 0 -46 4
7 Wynnum Manly Juniors 7 2 5 0 0 -100 4
8 Runaway Bay Seagulls 7 1 6 0 0 -82 0

Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup

Round 9 results

Brothers Ipswich 40 def Fassifern Bombers 16

Redbank Plains Bears 18 def Swifts Bluebirds 16

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Redbank Plains Bears 8 6 2 0 1 68 14
2 Swifts Bluebirds 8 5 3 0 1 58 12
3 Brothers Ipswich 6 3 3 0 3 6 12
4 Fassifern Bombers 7 3 4 0 2 -72 10
5 Norths Tigers 7 1 6 0 2 -60 6

North region

2023 FNQRL Men's A grade

Round 9 results

Cairns Brothers 26 def Ivanhoes Knights 14

Mareeba Gladiators 38 def Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 28

Edmonton Storm 30 def Atherton Roosters 24

Tully Tigers 62 def Southern Suburbs 26

Yarrabah Seahawks 37 def Cairns Kangaroos 36

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Cairns Kangaroos 8 6 2 0 1 125 14
2 Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 8 6 2 0 1 84 14
3 Cairns Brothers 8 6 2 0 1 72 14
4 Innisfail Leprechauns 8 5 3 0 1 124 12
5 Ivanhoes Knights 8 5 3 0 1 110 12
6 Yarrabah Seahawks 8 5 3 0 1 -29 12
7 Mareeba Gladiators 8 4 4 0 1 -38 10
8 Tully Tigers 8 3 4 1 1 -18 9
9 Edmonton Storm 7 2 5 0 2 -88 8
10 Atherton Roosters 9 1 7 1 0 -52 3
11 Southern Suburbs 8 0 8 0 1 -290 2

2023 FNQRL Open Women's 

Round 7 results

Edmonton Storm 18 drew with Atherton Roosters 18

Cairns Kangaroos 52 def Yarrabah Seahawks 12

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Cairns Kangaroos 5 4 1 0 2 94 12
2 Ivanhoes Knights Maidens 4 3 1 0 3 60 12
3 Atherton Roosters 6 4 1 1 1 80 11
4 Tully Tigers 4 1 3 0 3 2 8
5 Yarrabah Seahawks 5 2 3 0 2 -48 8
6 Edmonton Storm 6 2 3 1 1 -10 7
7 Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 4 0 4 0 3 -178 6

2023 Northern Peninsula Area Rugby League

Round 1 results

Alau Eagles 18 def Bamaga Roos 4

Injinoo Crocs 24 def New Mapoon Warriors 22

Ladder not available

2023 Rugby League Townsville District Men's A grade

Round 8 results

Brothers Townsville 50 def Western Lions 6

Burdekin Roosters 26 def Centrals Tigers 20

Souths Bulls 30 def Herbert River Crushers 16

Charters Towers Miners 18 def Norths Devils 16

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Brothers Townsville 8 7 1 0 0 109 14
2 Centrals Tigers 8 5 2 0 1 22 12
3 Charters Towers Miners 8 3 2 1 2 28 11
4 Burdekin Roosters 8 4 3 0 1 54 10
5 Souths Bulls 8 3 3 1 1 31 9
6 Norths Devils 8 1 4 1 2 -78 7
7 Herbert River Crushers 8 1 5 1 1 -69 5
8 Western Lions 8 2 6 0 0 -97 4

2023 Rugby League Townsville District Women's A grade

Round 8 results

Western Lions 4 def Brothers Townsville 0

Centrals Tigers 26 def Burdekin Roosters 0

Charters Towers 20 def Norths Devils 18

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Western Lions 7 7 0 0 1 134 16
2 Centrals Tigers 6 5 1 0 2 86 14
3 Burdekin Roosters 6 3 3 0 2 16 10
4 Brothers Townsville 6 3 3 0 2 2 10
5 Charters Towers Miners 5 1 4 0 3 -46 8
6 Norths Devils 6 1 5 0 2 -78 6
7 Herbert River Crushers 6 1 5 0 1 -114 4

2023 NQBE Mackay Men's A grade 

Round 7 results

Carltons Devils 32 drew with Moranbah Miners 32

Mackay Magpies 40 def Mackay Brothers 8

Sarina Crocodiles 22 def Whitsunday Brahmans 14

Wests Tigers 34 def Souths Sharks 18

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Mackay Magpies 7 7 0 0 0 194 14
2 Moranbah Miners 7 4 2 1 0 28 9
3 Mackay Brothers 7 4 3 0 0 38 8
4 Sarina Crocodiles 7 3 4 0 0 2 6
5 Souths Sharks 7 3 4 0 0 -20 6
6 Whitsunday Brahmans 7 3 4 0 0 -88 6
7 Wests Tigers 7 2 5 0 0 -56 4
8 Carltons Devils 7 1 5 1 0 -98 3

2023 Mackay Airport Women's A grade

Round 3 results

Mackay Brothers 32 def Carltons Devils 16

Mackay Magpies 38 def Sarina Crocodiles 10

Moranbah Miners 30 def Souths Sharks 0

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Mackay Brothers 3 3 0 0 0 124 6
2 Mackay Magpies 3 3 0 0 0 80 6
3 Moranbah Miners 3 2 1 0 0 4 4
4 Carltons Devils 3 1 2 0 0 -16 2
5 Sarina Crocodiles 3 0 3 0 0 -84 0
6 Souths Sharks 3 0 3 0 0 -108 0

Central region

2023 4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg Rugby League A Grade Men

Round 9 results

Wests Panthers 36 def Wallaroos 10

Waves Tigers 38 def Hervey Bay Seagulls 8

Past Brothers 30 def Easts Magpies 18

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Past Brothers 9 7 1 1 0 194 15
2 Waves Tigers 9 6 3 0 0 130 12
3 Easts Magpies 9 5 3 1 0 125 11
4 Wests Panthers 9 5 4 0 0 144 10
5 Wallaroos 9 3 6 0 0 -68 6
6 Hervey Bay Seagulls 9 0 9 0 0 -525 0

2023 Central Burnett Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 7 results

Monto Roos 64 def Eidsvold Eagles 22

Mundubbera Tigers 24 def Gayndah Gladiators 20

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Gayndah Gladiators 6 5 1 0 0 96 10
2 Mundubbera Tigers 6 5 1 0 0 90 10
3 Monto Roos 7 2 5 0 0 -92 4
4 Eidsvold Eagles 7 1 6 0 0 -94 2

2023 Emerald Industrial Supplies Central Highlands Men's A grade

Round 9 results

Emerald Tigers 20 def Peak Downs Pirates 12

Clermont Bears 56 def Emerald Brothers 0

Dysart Bulls def Bluff Rabbitohs (forfeit)

Springsure Mountain Men 34 def Middlemount Panthers 28

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Dysart Bulls 8 8 0 0 1 228 18
2 Emerald Tigers 8 7 1 0 1 186 16
3 Clermont Bears 8 6 2 0 1 240 14
4 Emerald Brothers 8 4 4 0 1 -60 10
5 Springsure Mountain Men 8 4 4 0 1 -86 10
6 Peak Downs Pirates 8 3 4 1 1 -40 9
7 Bluff Rabbitohs 8 2 5 1 1 -104 7
8 Middlemount Panthers 8 1 7 0 1 -150 4
9 Blackwater Crushers 8 0 8 0 1 -214 2

2023 Wellshot Hotel Central West Rugby League Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Blackall Magpies 26 def Barcaldine Sandgoannas 24

Blackall to play Longreach/Ilfracombe in the grand final

Northern Districts Rugby League 2023 Men's Premiership

Round 9 results

South Kolan Sharks 42 def Miriam Vale Magpies 12

Avondale Tigers 30 def Gin Gin Hawks 16

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Isis Devils 7 6 1 0 2 113 12
2 Avondale Tigers 7 5 2 0 2 19 10
3 South Kolan Sharks 7 4 2 1 2 96 9
4 Gin Gin Hawks 7 2 4 1 2 -62 5
5 Miriam Vale Magpies 8 0 8 0 1 -166 0

2023 Rockhampton Men's A grade

Round 9 results

Yeppoon Seagulls 42 def Fitzroy-Gracemere Sharks 12

Emu Park 30 drew with Brothers Rockhampton 30

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Brothers Rockhampton 7 5 1 1 2 32 11
2 Yeppoon Seagulls 8 3 3 2 1 58 8
3 Norths Chargers 7 4 3 0 1 29 8
4 Emu Park 7 2 2 3 2 17 7
5 Fitzroy-Gracemere Sharks 7 1 6 0 1 -136 2

2023 Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Women's A grade

Round 9 results

Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks 24 def Yeppoon Seagulls 14

Emu Park 54 def Brothers Rockhampton 4

Wallaby RLFC 52 def Norths Chargers 0

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Wallaby RLFC 8 8 0 0 1 222 16
2 Brothers Rockhampton 8 5 2 1 1 126 11
3 Emu Park 7 5 2 0 2 130 10
4 Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks 8 4 3 1 1 8 9
5 Yeppoon Seagulls 8 2 6 0 1 -69 4
6 Tannum Sands Seagulls 7 2 5 0 2 -129 4
7 Norths Chargers 8 0 8 0 1 -288 0

2023 Roma District Rugby League Men's A-grade

Round 7 results

Miles Devils 28 def Roma Cities 16

Chinchilla Bulldogs 20 def St George 18

Mitchell Magpies 20 def Wallumbilla/Surat Red Bulls 6

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Mitchell Magpies 6 6 0 0 1 168 24
2 Wallumbilla/Surat Red Bulls 6 5 1 0 1 162 20
3 Miles Devils 6 4 2 0 1 18 16
4 Roma Cities 6 3 3 0 1 -28 12
5 Chinchilla Bulldogs 6 2 4 0 1 -26 8
6 St George 6 1 5 0 1 -134 4
7 Taroom-Wandoan Battlers 6 0 6 0 1 -160 0

2023 Rugby League Gladstone Men's A grade

Round 6 results

Valleys 24 def Brothers 22

Tannum Sands Seagulls 64 def Wallaby RLFC 4

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Valleys Diehards 6 6 0 0 0 128 12
2 Brothers Gladstone 6 3 3 0 0 68 6
3 Tannum Sands Seagulls 6 3 3 0 0 50 6
4 Wallaby RLFC 6 0 6 0 0 -246 0

South Burnett Ken Mills Isuzu Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Cherbourg Hornets 32 def Wondai Wolves 30

Kingaroy Red Ants 34 def Murgon Mustangs 28

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Kingaroy Red Ants 5 5 0 0 0 154 10
2 Cherbourg Hornets 5 3 2 0 0 22 6
3 Wondai Proston Wolves 4 1 3 0 0 -40 2
4 Murgon Mustangs 4 0 4 0 0 -136 0

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Round 8 results

Warwick Cowboys 34 def Pittsworth Danes 24

Toowoomba Valleys 62 def Toowoomba Brothers 10

Oakey Bears 54 def Newtown Lions 6

Dalby Diehards 36 def Goondiwindi Boars 26

Gatton Hawks 38 def Southern Suburbs 14

Wattles Warriors 44 def Highfields Eagles 20

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Toowoomba Valleys 8 7 1 0 0 231 14
2 Warwick Cowboys 8 7 1 0 0 151 14
3 Gatton Hawks 8 7 1 0 0 131 14
4 Wattles Warriors 8 5 3 0 0 99 10
5 Dalby Diehards 8 5 3 0 0 96 10
6 Southern Suburbs 8 5 3 0 0 26 10
7 Pittsworth Danes 8 4 4 0 0 -42 8
8 Goondiwindi Boars 8 3 5 0 0 4 6
9 Highfields Eagles 8 3 5 0 0 -98 6
10 Oakey Bears 8 1 7 0 0 -54 2
11 Newtown Lions 8 1 7 0 0 -252 2
12 Toowoomba Brothers 8 0 8 0 0 -292 0

Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club A Grade Women 2023

Round 8 results

Oakey Bears 8 def Newtown Lions 6

Gatton Hawks 50 def Southern Suburbs 0

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Gatton Hawks 5 5 0 0 0 122 10
2 Newtown Lions 5 4 1 0 0 166 8
3 Oakey Bears 5 4 1 0 0 104 8
4 Dalby Diehards 3 1 2 0 0 -28 2
5 Toowoomba Valleys 4 1 3 0 0 -96 2
6 Highfields Eagles 0 0 4 0 0 -108 0
7 Southern Suburbs 0 0 4 0 0 -160 0

2023 Border Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 7 results

Texas Terriers 32 def Tenterfield Tigers 16

Eastern Suburbs Hornets 44 def McIntyre Warriors 18

Inglewood 26 def Stanthorpe Gremlins 18

Ladder

# Team P W L D B +/- Pts
1 Inglewood Roosters 7 7 0 0 0 120 14
2 Stanthorpe Gremlins 7 4 3 0 0 22 6
3 Texas Terriers 7 4 3 0 0 14 6
4 Tenterfield Tigers 7 3 4 0 0 -8 6
5 Eastern Suburbs Hornets 7 2 5 0 0 -122 4
6 McIntyre Warriors 7 1 6 0 0 -26 -4

 

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Queensland Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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