Statewide score wrap: Lasting Purcell legacy inspires Bulimba to minor premiership

"He was tough, uncompromising, he led all the energy and his two stints were probably his two best all year.

"Unfortunately for guys like Tom, and Anthony Cheng, we do get a lot of middles from Brisbane Tigers, so it's no slight on their abilities and sometimes they get shuffled down, but that's the system and luckily they're old enough to understand how it works.

"(Tom) outwardly may be unheralded, but inwardly we know what he brings."

Edwards said he hoped players could reflect on how far the side had come in the past 12 months before their next match in almost three weeks' time, with a bye for the final round next week followed by having the first week of finals off for finishing on top.

It will give the likes of Hayden Herbert - who was given an early shower on Saturday - along with Brad Russell, Jack Stafford and others time to recover and get set for a huge finals campaign.

Bulimba captain Izaac Skyring admitted he was a little concerned about the long break coming, but couldn't get past the "massive" achievement of being minor premiers - putting Purcell's influence down as a turning point.

"We don't have our own grounds, we're run out of a union clubhouse, we don't get any of the bar money or anything like that - we rely on our sponsors and our club days on the weekend," he said.

"So then a player like Purcey come to us, I think that was a turning point because it sort of started to become a bit of a destination that other players wanted to come to and wanted to buy into what we were trying to create.

"This year has been exciting building on last year because I thought last year was a big turning point and I thought we played some really good footy and were probably a bit unlucky to not get into the grand final there, but to continue on from that this year has been something Purcey definitely was a big part of."

On the minor premiership, Edwards paid tribute to West Brisbane Panthers coaches Tye and Craig 'Trigger' Ingebrigtsen for driving the rest of the competition to lift their standards.

"You've got to give credit to the Ingebrigtsens, both of them. Tye's won two comps in a row, Trigger is probably one of the best coaches in Australia, hands down, and they've driven this competition to the next level," Edwards said.

"Some people get really upset about it, but I actually welcome how far they've pushed us all to be better.

"So it does mean a lot to be able to compete with them and it's only having a draw and them being one extra loss."

And he knows their battle is far from done.

"Any Ingebrigtsen-coached team has to be respected at any point in time," Edwards said.

West Brisbane will lock in second spot if they beat Carina Juniors next round, while Wynnum Manly would confirm at least a double chance if they beat Souths Juniors.

Brighton will take on Valleys in a game deciding who will host the elimination final.

Main image: Izaac Skyring and Tom O'Keefe holding the Donnelly-Hickey Cup, contested between Bulimba and Normanby each year in honour of two legendary families of the clubs. Photo: @stne_creative

QRL South East region

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade 

Round 17 results

Wynnum Manly Juniors 31 def West Brisbane Panthers 12

Bulimba Bulldogs 20 def Normanby Hounds 12

Valleys Diehards 44 def Souths Juniors 26

Brighton Roosters 26 def Beenleigh Pride 24

Ladder

Rugby League Gold Coast A grade

Round 14 results

Tugun Seahawks 38 def Helensvale Hornets 18

Southport Tigers 52 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 16

Burleigh Bears 30 def Currumbin Eagles 26

Ladder

Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup

Round 17 results

Redbank Plains Bears 33 def Swifts Bluebirds 32

Brothers Ipswich 44 def Norths Tigers 10

Ladder

South East Women's Holcim Cup A grade

Semi-finals

Elimination final: Currumbin Eagles 18 def Valleys Diehards 16

Major semi-final: Ormeau Shearers 30 def Goodna Eagles 26

Next week - Preliminary final: Goodna Eagles v Currumbin Eagles

QRL North region

Far North Queensland Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 17 results

Ivanhoes Knights 32 def Yarrabah Seahawks 20

Innisfail Leprechauns 42 def Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 30

Mareeba Gladiators 40 def Tully Tigers 14

Cairns Brothers 90 def Edmonton Storm 4

Cairns Kangaroos 78 def Southern Suburbs 0

Ladder

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Rugby League

Week 6 results

New Mapoon Warriors 36 def Bamaga Roos 8

Alau Eagles 38 def Injinoo Crocs 10

Rugby League Townsville District Men's A grade

Round 16 results

Brothers Townsville 42 def Western Lions 4

Souths Bulls 32 def Charters Towers Miners 20

Norths Devils 48 def Burdekin Roosters 28

Centrals Tigers 38 def Herbert River Crushers 12

Ladder

Rugby League Townsville District Women's A grade

Round 16 results

Brothers Townsville 14 def Western Lions 10

Herbert River Crushers 40 def Centrals Tigers 12

Burdekin Roosters 28 def Norths Devils 6

Ladder

Rugby League Mackay & District NQBE Men's A grade

Round 14 results

Mackay Magpies 26 def Whitsunday Brahmans 18

Moranbah Miners 14 drew with Souths Sharks 14

Mackay Brothers 34 def Wests Tigers 6

Carltons Devils 28 drew with Sarina Crocodiles 28

Ladder

Mackay Airport Women's A grade

Round 10 results

Moranbah Miners def Souths Sharks (forfeit)

Mackay Brothers 12 def Mackay Magpies 4

Sarina Crocodiles 30 def Carltons Devils 4

Ladder

QRL Central region

Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership

Finals Week 1

Elimination final: Easts Magpies 46 def Wallaroos 26

Qualifying final: Wests Panthers 24 def Waves Tigers 14

Central Burnett Rugby League

Grand final

Gayndah Gladiators 42 def Eidsvold Eagles 26

2023 Emerald Industrial Supplies Central Highlands Men's A grade 

Round 18 results

Emerald Tigers 28 def Peak Downs Pirates 14

Clermont Bears 32 def Emerald Brothers 12

Springsure Mountain Men 28 def Middlemount Panthers 24

Dysart Bulls 68 def Bluff Rabbitohs 18

Ladder

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's Premiership

Elimination final

South Kolan Sharks 46 def Gin Gin Hawks 14

Qualifying final

Isis Devils 54 def Avondale Tigers 0

Rockhampton Men's A grade

Grand final

Yeppoon Seagulls 32 def Emu Park Emus 29

2023 Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Women's A grade

Grand final

Brothers Rockhampton 34 def Emu Park 12

Roma District Rugby League A grade

Round 14 results

Chinchilla Bulldogs def St George (forfeit)

Miles Devils 34 drew with Roma Cities 34

Mitchell Magpies 58 def Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls 4

Ladder

Rugby League Gladstone Men's A grade

Grand final

Valleys Diehards 50 def Brothers Gladstone 14

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 16 results

Maroochydore Swans 20 def Caboolture Snakes 14

Caloundra Sharks 18 def Nambour Crushers 12

Beerwah Bulldogs 18 def Kawana Dolphins 16

Coolum Colts 32 def Noosa Pirates 8

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Women's A grade

Round 16 results

Caloundra Sharks 36 def Nambour Crushers 0

Noosa Pirates def Gympie Devils (forfeit)

Kawana Dolphins 10 def Beerwah Bulldogs 6

Ladder

South Burnett Ken Mills Isuzu Men's A grade

Round 11 results

Cherbourg Hornets 24 def Wondai Proston Wolves 20

Kingaroy Red Ants 52 def Murgon Mustangs 12

Ladder

Hutchison Builders Toowoomba Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 16 results

Toowoomba Valleys 70 def Highfields Eagles 0

Dalby Diehards 40 def Warwick Cowboys 18

Pittsworth Danes 38 def Toowoomba Brothers 18

Southern Suburbs 32 def Newtown Lions 22

Oakey Bears 46 def Goondiwindi Boars 26

Gatton Hawks 16 def Wattles Warriors 8

Ladder

Toowoomba Sports Club Women's A grade

Round 16 results

Highfields Eagles 10 def Toowoomba Valleys 6

Newtown Lions 56 def Southern Suburbs 4

Ladder

Border Rugby League Men's

Round 14 results

McIntyre Warriors 32 def Eastern Suburbs Hornets 18

Inglewood Roosters 58 def Stanthorpe Gremlins 12

Tenterfield Tigers 28 def Texas Terriers 18

Ladder