Sunday wrap: Burleigh stay in second with statement win over Wynnum Manly
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Burleigh Bears skipper Sami Sauiluma has labelled his side's 35-6 victory over the Wynnum Manly Seagulls as their best performance of the season so far.
In a much-needed win for last year's minor premiers, the Bears put a rollercoaster month behind them with gritty defence and an attacking masterclass at BMD Kougari Oval on Sunday, in what was the final match of a thrilling Round 20.
Not only has it kept them in second place on the ladder, but it's brought them within one point of competition leaders, Souths Logan Magpies, who suffered a narrow two-point loss to the Brisbane Tigers on Saturday.
And two-try hero Sauiluma could not have been happier with the performance, which he hopes Burleigh build off as they move into the final two weeks of the regular season.
Match: WM Seagulls v Bears
Round 20 -
home Team
WM Seagulls
4th Position
away Team
Bears
2nd Position
Venue: BMD Kougari Oval, Brisbane
"It was probably our best performance of the year," Sauiluma said.
"We've been out of that winning circle for a while now so it's good to not just get a win but also have a performance like that.
"Going into the back end of this year, we need to find a bit of form. We'll take that into next week.
"We spoke during the week about how we've been a bit tense and a bit hesitant with our attack. We haven't had the energy in defence.
"This week, we were given the keys to throw the shackles away and play a bit of footy and just enjoy it. It was good. That was the main thing - shackles off."
A number of players stood up for Burleigh across the park, including Sauiluma and fellow veterans Pat Politoni and Sam Coster.
Jacob Alick and Matthew Koellner were huge for the pack, while halfback Guy Hamilton shone as he fully embraced the "shackles off" mantra.
Hamilton - who picked up the Round 20 Hastings Deering player of the match - said it was good to let the stress of the pointy end of the season go and to just "have some fun" against the Seagulls.
"It was a massive game for our season," Hamilton said.
"The ladder is getting real tight and we know that and we felt the pressure a little bit.
"It's starting to get to the business end and you can feel the pressure a lot. (Coach Luke Burt) just really wanted us to know we're here to have fun and when we do that, we play our best footy.
"We have to play what we see and when we do that, we're one of the best teams in the comp and we know that. It was good to do that today."
With the win - and Souths Logan's loss yesterday - Burleigh are now firmly back in the race for the minor premiership.
While they were always a chance, the results from Round 20 have the stage set for a thrilling end to the year.
Hamilton said they naturally want to take out the minor premiership, but are more concerned on being in the right form for the race to this year's grand final.
"We want to win everything," Hamilton said.
"We're a group of blokes that want to win everything. If there is a chance for us to finish on top, we'll definitely take it.
"But it doesn't mean too much. Obviously we did it last year and we faded after that so we know we want to be humming in two or three more weeks.
"Wherever we land, we land and we'll be ready."
