Statewide score wrap: Townsville do XXXX Foley Shield double

Townsville has taken home the women's and men's titles in the XXXX Foley Shield - the men's side scraping home on a try countback after all three teams were equal on wins and differential.

Each of Townsville, Cairns and Mackay had a chance of victory in the men's competition when Mackay and Townsville took to BB Print Stadium on Monday.

The home side had one hand on the trophy midway through the second half leading 22-8, the Sea Eagles going on a rampage after being starved of possession in the first half when they faced an eight-point deficit.

But Townsville began to win the arm-wrestle in the second stanza, with fullback Lennix Tovo weaving his way through to give the visitors some hope.

The try to Christian Gale in the 72nd minute drew Townsville clinched the result and the confusion on the sideline when the final siren went soon became elation for the Matt Bowen-coached team.

"I've never really experienced anything like that," Townsville prop Faron Morris said. "It was nerve-wracking, but sitting there we honestly had no idea what was going on or who was going to win, so nerve-wracking but good to get the win anyway."

"I was telling them to try to kick a field goal, because I knew if we lost by three (the XXXX Foley Shield) was ours.

"It's unreal. You can't put it into words. To win this shield again and bring it back to Townsville, not just for the boys who played here today, but for everyone in Townsville right from under 6s to A grade, it means the world to Townsville and I'm glad we brought it back for them.

"We spoke about it a lot over the past couple of weeks about the history of the Foley Shield and respecting the history of it but going out and creating our own history... and passing it on to next year."

Morris said Townsville's women "put a lot of pressure on us" when they claimed back-to-back titles in the game before them and was pleased both to get the job done.

"They're an unreal footy side and going back-to-back they deserve it more than we do, so it's a credit to them."

Townsville's women ran away with a 24-8 victory, outlasting Mackay after a tight first half arm-wrestle of the winner-take-all showdown.

Melody Tass scored an early try for Mackay 4-0 before the home side's errors allowed Townsville to heap on the pressure, which told through tries to Gagie Mackie Namok and Toni Daisy in quick succession.

Mackay showed plenty of fight, defending repeat sets and got their rewards when winger Nali Hine brought it back to a two-point margin, which it stayed until half-time.

Townsville had poor discipline early in the second half held strong defensively, pulling away through a second try to Daisy, before workhorse lock Jordii Mahendrarajah and Grace Tai added their names to the score sheet.

Townsville hooker Mateeka Neilson said it was great to have the team become part of XXXX Foley Shield history and show off the talent in the region, driven by belief in each other.

"I think it was just believing in one another and having that bit of effort in the ruck," she said.

"It was a real arm wrestle, so I think pushing up in our support, our support runners were the winners there and our backs getting involved when our middles were blowing. I think that's what really put us over the line

"The one thing we pride ourselves on is our line speed (in defence) there and making sure we have a good work ethic and we work from the inside out and I think just having that belief in each other as well."

Mackay Sea Eagles players Ataliah Love and Marmin Barba earned women's and men's player of the carnival honours respectively.

The XXXX Foley Shield carnival will return to its traditional home Townsville in 2025.

Watch full replays of every game of the XXXX Foley Shield by subscribing to Qplus.tv.

Results - XXXX Foley Shield

Men

Cairns 28 def Mackay 24

Marmin Barba wowed the home crowd with a hat-trick before Cairns mounted a spirited comeback, taking advantage of their opponent losing a man to the sin bin in the final 10 minutes. Fullback Lachlan Biondi-Odo scored the match winner in the 75th minute.

Townsville 22 def Cairns 18

Townsville dominated field position for much of the game and thwarted Cairns' last-tackle options with desperate defence to sneak away with a five-tries-to-three victory.

Mackay 22 def Townsville 18

*Townsville awarded the 2024 XXXX Foley Shield on a try countback (Townsville 9, Cairns 8, Mackay 8)

Women

Mackay 28 def Cairns 0

Melody Tass scored a hat-trick in a commanding victory.

Townsville 40 def Cairns 0

Townsville centre Gagie Mackie Namok and lock Jordii Mahendrarajah scored doubles as Cairns struggled to contain a rampact pack in the daytime heat.

Townsville 24 def Mackay 8

*Townsville wins the XXXX Foley Shield

QRL Central region

Frank Fisher Cup

Frank Fisher Invitational 29 def QPS Men 28

Central Crows 60 def QPS Women 6

Roma District Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Mitchell Magpies 34 def Miles Devils 16

Roma Cities 40 def Taroom-Wandoan 14

Wallumbilla-Surat Red Bulls 22 def St George Dragons 16

Ladder

Central West Rugby League Wellshot Hotel Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Alpha Brumbies 36 def Winton Diamantina Devils 26

Barcaldine Sandgoannas 36 def Longreach-Ilfracombe 24

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Emerald Industrial Supplies Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Dysart Bulls 70 def Peak Downs Pirates 10

Clermont Bears 52 def Blackwater Crushers 10

Bluff Rabbitohs 26 def Emerald Brothers 22

Middlemount Panthers 30 def Emerald Tigers 16

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Sentinel Group Women's Competition

Round 3 results

Bluff Rabbitohs 26 def Dysart Bulls 6

Ladder

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 5 results

South Kolan Sharks 34 def Avondale Tigers 0

Isis Devils 34 def Miriam Vale Magpies 24

Calliope Roosters 30 def Gin Gin Hawks 22

Ladder

Wide Bay Open Women

Round 3 results

Wondai Wolves 18 def Cherbourg Hornets 8

Fraser Coast Crushers 34 def Bundaberg Bears 4

Ladder

South Burnett Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 2 results

Wondai Wolves 30 def Murgon Mustangs 14

Nanango Stags 30 def Kingaroy Red Ants 12

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Caboolture Snakes 46 def Stanley River Wolves 18

Nambour Crushers 32 def Kawana Dolphins 12

Coolum Colts 28 def Maroochydore Swans 16

Noosa pirates 26 def Beerwah Bulldogs 8

Ladder

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Open Women

Round 7 results

Kawana Dolphins 26 def Maroochydore Swans 12

Noosa Pirates 24 def Beerwah Bulldogs 4

Caboolture Snakes def Caloundra Sharks (forfeit)

Ladder

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Round 5 results

Warwick Cowboys 32 def Pittsworth Danes 12

Dalby Diehards 44 def Newtown Lions 4

Southern Suburbs Tigers 34 def Highfields Eagles 20

Gatton Hawks 34 def Wattles Warriors 30

Valleys Roosters 56 def Toowoomba Brothers 22

Goondiwindi Boars 44 def Oakey Bears 8

Ladder

TRL Toowoomba Sports Club Women's A grade

Round 5 results

Toowoomba Brothers 30 def Valleys Roosters 8

Highfields Eagles 26 def Southern Suburbs Tigers 6

Newtown Lions 38 def Dalby Diehards 0

Ladder

QRL South East region

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade

Round 5 results

Carina Tigers 18 def Valleys Diehards 6

Beenleigh Pride 26 def Bulimba Bulldogs 18

Normanby Hounds 20 drew with Souths Juniors 20

West Brisbane Panthers 24 def Brighton Roosters 14

Wynnum Manly Seagulls 26 def Redcliffe Juniors 20

Ladder

Rugby League Gold Coast A grade

Round 3 results

Burleigh Bears 30 def Currumbin Eagles 0

Tugun Seahawks 54 def Helensvale Hornets 18

Southport Tigers 32 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 22

Ladder

South East Premier Grade Women

Round 3 results

Currumbin Eagles 46 def Beenleigh Pride 0

Waterford Demons 26 def Pine Central Holy Spirit Hornets 20

Goodna Eagles 32 def Mustangs Brothers 12

Aspley Devils v Runaway Bay Seagulls - result not provided

Valleys Diehards def Burleigh Bears (forfeit)

Ladder

Updated ladder not available

RLI Ipswich Jets A grade Cup

Round 4 results

Swifts 34 def Jets 28

Ladder