Round 17 Sunday wrap: Day for upsets as Hunters, Jets and Magpies win

Author: Rikki-Lee Arnold Statewide content producer
Timestamp: Sun 7 Jul 2024, 05:46 PM

Upsets were the order of the day, as BMD Indigenous Round came to an end with a few thrillers.

The Souths Logan Magpies set the tone early on Sunday as they sent shockwaves across BMD Kougari Oval, knocking off Wynnum Manly Seagulls 40-10 to claim this year's Mitch Cronin Cup in the broadcast feature match.

The Ipswich Jets followed suit on the Sunshine Coast, claiming their second win of the year with a 12-10 triumph over the Falcons - the first victory under new coach, Tye Ingebrigtsen.

Then at Bishop Park, former competition leaders Norths Devils and the PNG Hunters put on an absolute nail-biter, with the away team securing the two points in the dying seconds of the match.

It was try-for-try between the two sides throughout the afternoon but the Devils looked to have it all wrapped up at 18-14 with six minutes to go after winger Andre Niko crossed.

But a never-say-die Hunters outfit just kept on coming and - in a combined effort with a runaway Benji Kot - winger Solo Wane responded with just a minute left on the clock to tie the game up at 18-all.

Neither goalkicker had had much luck throughout the day, but halfback Jamie Mavoko struck when needed most, kicking the conversion to claim the win.

Round 17 - Round 17 - Sunday 7 Jul

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Devils

Hunters

Venue: Bishop Park, Brisbane

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He said he took his time to breathe as he lined up the final goal but knew he could handle the moment, having practised for it before.

"I practise for this kind of moment, for the last points," Mavoko said.

"For me, I should practise on that.

"I'm feeling very excited and happy. We are trying to make it into the top eight and they're first on the ladder so to get a win like this, I'm very grateful.

"It gives us a lot of confidence. For us to win, it's a big win going into the back end of the season."

The Hunters were sitting on the brink of the eight heading into the match and have now moved into seventh, leapfrogging the Central Queensland Capras.

Norths meanwhile have slipped into second place behind the Northern Pride.

Hunters coach Paul Aiton was relieved after the match and said while there were errors and penalties on both sides of the park, he was pleased that the Hunters didn't fade in the second stanza after going into halftime tied up at 10-all.

"We just hung in there," he said.

"It was really good to see us start well and finish well. We've been falling away in the second half, so it was really good.

"My message at halftime was, 'it's in your hands.'

"It was weird, but I had a feeling (they would win). I have a lot of confidence in the boys. It was good. They deserve it."

Mavoko celebrates his conversion. Photo: Rikki-Lee Arnold/QRL

Aiton said the key now was for the Hunters to not only apply this kind of pressure to the top teams, but teams that are around them on the ladder or lower.

While they have struggled to put to bed sides below them, they have now taken down the Devils and the Pride, both of which sit in the top two.

"We just have to have that confidence, but also for the teams around us or lower," he said.

"Hopefully they can see it's a full 80 minute game and we have to play for 80 minutes. I'll be hammering that this week, that's for sure."

Round 17 - Round 17 - Sunday 7 Jul

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