Past Brothers' 'prodigal son' Matt Craven produced a masterclass to guide his side to an 18-6 victory over West Panthers in the Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership at Salter Oval on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old two-time BRL player of the year, who missed 14 matches in 2023 with a broken hand, played all his junior football for the club being mentored throughout by his famous uncle and coach Andrew Hamilton and now has a Les Somerville Medal to add to his accolades.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Brothers, as the Panthers drew first blood in the decider through high class lock Shaun Ezzy in the seventh minute, with Chris Robinson landing the simple conversion.
Brothers’ only points in the first half were from a try to centre Quentin Olive on the 20-minute mark.
Both teams continued their end-to-end battle, each creating many chances, but both sides defended magnificently.
Craven gave the Brethren the first real chance in the second stanza with a booming 40/20 kick, but despite getting three sets in a row in the Panthers’ red zone, there was no way through and they ultimately turned the ball over.
West quickly turned defence into attack, and two minutes later, they looked to have extended their lead with under 18 winger Noah Law crossing in the left corner, only for the final pass to be ruled forward.
With no way through the West defence, Craven went to the air, launching a towering clearing kick and with the Panthers not contesting the ball, Craven came racing through and received a fortuitous bounce to allow him to sprint away to score untouched, converted for a 10-6 lead in the 63rd minute.
From there, Brothers were able to dominate territorially and they extended their lead to six points with a Craven penalty goal with 6.55 left on the clock after the Panthers were penalised while in possession.
With time running out for Panthers and fatigue setting in Craven ignited another attacking raid from deep in his own half down the left, paving the way for club junior and rock solid second rower Luke Stilinovich to put the icing on a superb season with his fifth try of 2023.
It was Brothers' third A grade gong in four seasons and their 25th in their proud history since their formation in 1947, well-timed with their 75th anniversary celebrations on September 30.
While Craven was the clear stand-out, Brothers coach Andrew Hamilton lauded a robust team performance, well led by first-season captain Tyrell Priestley, and with a truly magnificent pack, headed by starting front rowers Tyla Hodge and Hayden Priestley, 18-year-old hooker Eden Hess, second rower and 2022 Les Somerville Medal winner Max Shorter, Stilinovich and Kevin Sherriff.
The win is another feather in the cap of Brothers junior Hamilton, who first captained-coached the club to A grade glory as a teenager in 1995 before going on to an illustrious playing career with Sunshine Coast Falcons, Ipswich Jets and Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup, South Queensland Crushers in the ARL competition and London Broncos in the English Super League.
He has continued his high success rate in a couple of stints at the helm since returning to Australia and was again in awe of his nephew and “an absolutely awesome defensive effort” from the team.
“It was a good physical game from both teams and we played a very disciplined game, although we didn’t play real smart at times, and I’m really proud of all the team,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said there had been real fire in the bellies of the seven players who were plucked by the Seagulls last year, and Craven and Hayden Priestley, who had lost the decider 12 months earlier for East.
Craven said it was sweet to win another premiership with Hamilton after first being part of an A grade title winning team as a two-year-old mascot in 1995.
“It was good to win premierships for Brothers when I was younger and while I enjoyed my time at Easts, it is really good to come back to my junior club and get a win," he said.
"The first half was pretty tough but we came good in the second half, and the boys just dug deep,” Craven said.
It was West’s first grand final appearance in nine years since they defeated Isis Devils 42-28 to claim the 2004 title, and the three survivors from that side, brothers Corey, Joshua and Daniel Tanner, were again driving forces behind their superb season, with Corey now as coach.
After going so close, they are each now reconsidering retirement and may continue on in a quest for one more premiership.
In reserve grade, West broke an eight-year drought, with teenager Ryan Bugeja kicking a field goal in extra time to clinch a 21-20 victory over Waves Tigers.
Brothers also contested the under 18 finale for the second year in a row as minor premiers but they were again bridesmaids, going down to Hervey Bay 28-8 with winger Elijah Mason starring for the Seagulls with a hat-trick of tries.
