Statewide score wrap: Clucky Brighton's resurgence far from over

It's hard not to dream big for Brighton Roosters after disposing of BRL leaders Bulimba 32-16 on Saturday to take their hot streak to six wins on the trot.

A chance at the finals is now all in their hands, having looked a forlorn hope at the midway point of the season when they had just three wins of nine to their name.

"When we come to the second round, our mindset was every week is the grand final. If we don't win here on out, we don't play finals footy," Brighton Roosters coach Andrew Wynyard said.

"So that's been the mindset for the boys for the last probably six weeks and obviously the results have gone our way.

"When you got that mindset of having to win every week, you turn up and play your best footy."

Wynyard said even before the change in fortunes, the team had the building blocks with a solid defence (they have conceded two more points than defending premiers West Brisbane Panthers) and one of the most formidable forward packs in the competition - with the additions of Dilbert Issac and Samson Graham in the offseason - but couldn't do enough damage with the ball, owing to missed preseason time for the new halves.

Fullback Michael McGrath became part of the playmaking unit in Round 3, transitioning from the wing to where he played his junior footy, and said the turnaround in attack came down to the spine and coach coming together to reach an understanding of how to take advantage of their marauding middle.

"I think around three or four it was that I started into that fullback role for the first time and we did have a bit of a chat with the halves about like what we wanted to get out of our processes, where were our strength and weaknesses and how we were going to work around that," he said.

"I think that definitely helped in the long run having that big sit down and that discussion and (Wynyard) was a part of that as well.

"It was just having a chat around utilising our middles a lot more. We've got an incredible pack just rolling through the middle of the field and it's about using that to our advantage and then playing off the back of that and earning the right to play that kind of footy."

McGrath paid tribute to five-eighth Thomas Casey for his role in the attacking turnaround that has had Brighton scoring at least 26 points in the second round of fixtures.

The pair were again instrumental in eclipsing that on Saturday, with McGrath scoring the opening try when he dived in from dummy half, then putting his winger away in what resulted in a try the next play to centre Harrison McIndoe, who finished with a double.

McGrath said Brayden Dee, who started on the edge having come off the bench much of the season, was outstanding in the win over Bulimba, along with the usual suspects in Samson Graham, Dilbert Issac and second rower Thomas McKenzie, who he hailed for a rich vein of form.

Wynyard said the win over Bulimba, fuelled by an 18-of-20 first half completion rate, was another boost to their belief they were contenders in 2023.

They go into the last two weeks level on points with Wynnum Manly Juniors (3rd), Valleys (5th) and Beenleigh (6th), with the latter two their final opponents.

"I think on any given day, we could hold our own against the likes of West Brisbane and Bulimba and Wynnum Manly Juniors," he said.

"Our run home has been very strong. We've had all the top teams, obviously with Beenleigh and Valleys (5th) and with those teams, if we don't turn up to training and work hard and win those two games, well it might slip away.

"So we can't afford to stop playing footy.

"The boys are really looking forward to the challenge over the next couple of weeks."

McGrath conceded despite that, it was hard not to look forward.

"We are taking it one game at a time can't look too far ahead, but we're six wins in a row now and a lot of us boys are saying if we keep playing the way we're playing and we keep bringing the energy and the enthusiasm and the intent that we are, we don't really plan on losing a game from now until the grand final," he said.

A win in the next round on August 5 against Beenleigh, who have a -22 points differential compared to Brighton's +184, would all but secure the Roosters their place in the finals.

QRL South East

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade

Round 16 results

Normanby Hounds 44 def Carina Juniors 16

West Brisbane Panthers 40 def Souths Juniors 20

Valleys Diehards 25 def Beenleigh Pride 18

Brighton Roosters 32 def Bulimba Bulldogs 16

Ladder

South East Women's Holcim Cup

Round 13 results

Runaway Bay Seagulls 26 def Beenleigh Pride 10

Goodna Eagles 30 def Currumbin Eagles 8

Ormeau Shearers 26 def Nerang Roosters 16

Ladder

Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup

Round 15 results

Fassifern Bombers 24 def Swifts Bluebirds 22

Brothers Ipswich 36 def Norths Tigers 12

Ladder

QRL North region

Far North Queensland Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 15 results

Ivanhoes Knights 20 def Cairns Kangaroos 10

Innisfail Leprechauns 24 def Tully Tigers 6

Mareeba Gladiators 29 def Atherton Roosters 22

Yarrabah Seahawks 34 def Edmonton Storm 30

Cairns Brothers 48 def Southern Suburbs 12

Ladder

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Rugby League Men's competition

Week 7 results

Alau Eagles 32 def Bamaga Roos 10

Injinoo Crocs 30 def New Mapoon Warriors 12

NQBE Mackay & District Men's A grade

Round 12 results

Souths Sharks 44 def Carltons Devils 16

Mackay Magpies 30 def Moranbah Miners 6

Mackay Brothers 32 def Whitsunday Brahmans 20

Sarina Crocodiles 38 def Wests Tigers 28

Ladder

Mackay Airport A Grade Women

Round 9 results

Carltons Devils def Souths Sharks (forfeit)

Mackay Magpies 26 def Moranbah Miners 6

Mackay Brothers 20 def Sarina Crocodiles 4

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville District Men's A grade

Round 14 results

Souths Bulls 36 def Burdekin Roosters 12

Charters Towers Miners 36 def Centrals Tigers 28

Norths Devils 16 drew with Western Lions 16

Cairns Brothers 42 def Herbert River Crushers 0

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville District Women's A grade

Round 14 results

Charters Towers Miners def Centrals Tigers (forfeit)

Western Lions 46 def Norths Devils 4

Herbert River Crushers 36 def Brothers Townsville 12

Ladder

Mount Isa Rugby League Men's A grade

Semi-final results

Townies 48 def Brothers 34

Townies to face Wanderers in the grand final

QRL Central 

Bundaberg Broadcasters Men's A grade

Round 15 results

Past Brothers 24 def Wests Panthers 10

Waves Tigers 32 def Wallaroos 18

Easts Magpies 36 def Hervey Bay Seagulls 32

Ladder

Central Burnett Rugby League Men's A grade

Semi-finals results

Minor semi-final: Eidsvold Eagles 40 def Monto Roos 18

Major semi-final: Gayndah Gladiators 24 def Mundubbera Tigers 12

2023 Emerald Industrial Supplies Central Highlands Men's A grade 

Round 16 results

Clermont Bears 62 def Peak Downs Pirates 4

Emerald Tigers 24 def Emerald Brothers 20

Dysart Bulls 58 def Blackwater Crushers 6

Bluff Rabbitohs 20 drew with Springsure Mountain Men 20

Ladder

SRO Technology Central Highlands Women's A grade

Round 11 results

Emerald Tigers 38 def Emerald Brothers 4

Ladder

Northern Districts Men's A grade

Round 15 results

Avondale Tigers 24 def Isis Devils 18

Gin Gin Hawks 50 def Miriam Vale Magpies 8

Ladder

Rockhampton Men's A grade

Semi-finals results

Major semi-final: Yeppoon Seagulls 10 def Brothers Rockhampton 8

Minor semi-final: Emu Park 36 def Norths Chargers 10

2023 Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Women's A grade

Finals Week 2 results

Major semi-final: Emu Park 22 def Wallaby RLFC 0

Minor semi-final: Brothers Rockhampton 32 def Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks 8

Roma District Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 12 results

Miles Devils 36 def Wallumbilla/Surat Red Bulls 22  

Roma Cities 38 def Chinchilla Bulldogs 30

Taroom-Wandoan Battlers def St George (forfeit)

Ladder

Wide Bay Open Women

Round 11 results

Fraser Coast Crushers 24 def Cherbourg Hornets 0

Wondai Proston Wolves 34 def Bundaberg Bears 30

Ladder

Rugby League Gladstone Men's A grade

Round 12 results

Brothers Gladstone 28 def Valleys Diehards 16

Tannum Sands Seagulls 48 def Wallaby RLFC 0

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 14 results

Noosa Pirates 42 def Caboolture Snakes 16

Beerwah Bulldogs 70 def Caloundra Sharks 6

Maroochydore Swans 22 def Nambour Crushers 12

Kawana Dolphins 28 def Coolum Colts 10

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Women's A grade

Round 14 results

Beerwah Bulldogs 22 def Caloundra Sharks 16

Kawana Dolphins 36 def Gympie Devils 4

Caboolture Snakes 36 def Noosa Pirates 6

Ladder

Hutchison Builders Toowoomba Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 14 results

Toowoomba Valleys 34 def Goondiwindi Boars 26

Pittsworth Danes 40 def Oakey Bears 36

Southern Suburbs 46 def Toowoomba Brothers 20

Dalby Diehards 100 def Newtown Lions 12

Gatton Hawks 56 def Highfields Eagles 14

Wattles Warriors 14 def Warwick Cowboys 12

Ladder

Toowoomba Sports Club Women's A grade

Round 14 results

Toowoomba Valleys def Southern Suburbs (forfeit)

Gatton Hawks 40 def Highfields Eagles 6

Newtown Lions 52 def Dalby Diehards 0

Ladder

Border Rugby League Men's

Round 13 results

Inglewood Roosters 48 def Tenterfield Tigers 14

Texas Terriers def McIntyre Warriors (forfeit)

Stanthorpe Gremlins 66 def Eastern Suburbs Hornets 6

Ladder