Round 17 Sunday wrap: Redcliffe claim inaugural Liam Hampson Cup

The Redcliffe Dolphins have claimed the inaugural Liam Hampson Cup, in an emotionally-charged clash with Tweed Seagulls at Cbus Super Stadium.

The game paid tribute to the crafty No.9, who played with both Tweed and Redcliffe over his Hostplus Cup career, before his tragic death last October while on an overseas holiday.

The meaning of the match was clear on both sides of the park, with the two sides putting on a battle to remember.

Tweed came racing out of the blocks early with a try to winger Kaleb Ngamanu before Redcliffe responded with a double in seven minutes to Levi Wilson and Tyson Cleal.

A seesawing affair ensued and in the end, they could only be split by a penalty goal, with Dolphins halfback Cody Hunter kicking the match-winner with just two minutes left on the clock.

Redcliffe coach Ben Te'o said the scoreline clearly reflected how much both teams cared about this game, not just for the crucial two points on a tight ladder but to pay tribute to Hampson.

He said he let his Dolphins players feel their emotions as much as they needed today and in particular let those who were close to Hampson be on the field as much as possible.

"There was two very, very motivated and emotional teams," he said.

"The scoreline projects that. They got off to a start, we clawed back, then they came back and then we got them at the end.

"Everyone should be happy with the way that game was played. It was played in the right spirit.

"For us, we had to let them have their emotion in the lead up and then at the last minute, pull them back into a rugby league mindset. 

"There were guys there today that played above themselves. Shelly (Pitama), he's had a really tough few weeks with illness and prep. He got out 80 minutes.

"Jarrett Boland was phenomenal as was Tyson Cleal, and those were guys who were all quite close with him.

"It was something extra so I left them on the field longer."

Electric Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller ended up taking home both the Hastings Deering player of the match and the inaugural Liam Hampson Medal, with Fuller selected for the medal by Hampson's family.

On the opposite side of the park, Hampson's close friends in Will Brimson and Brent Woolf shone, while Ngamanu bagged a double.

The win saw Redcliffe remain in fifth spot on the ladder, with Tweed in seventh, but Te'o said he knows his team still have a lot to learn before finals roll around late next month.

"We're learning so much," he said.

"We have so many young guys playing men's footy for the first time and it's still a big shock to them.

"They're getting better slowly and we just have to be patient with them. They're going to be NRL players one day but they're learning right now. This is a tough competition."

Redcliffe will turn their attention to a big meeting with Burleigh next week in Miles while will go up against the fourth-placed Brisbane Tigers in Kilcoy for the Activate Queensland! Country Week.

For a wrap of the Round 17 Saturday games, click here.