Statewide score wrap: Thrilling Texas win the perfect end for skipper

The Border league premiership trophy is staying on the northern side of the fence after an epic Texas Terriers comeback against Macintyre Warriors, sending captain Cam Sweedman out a winner.

The stalwart of rugby league on the Darling Downs, who previously played in the Toowoomba A grade competition, called time on his career at Reg Saunders Oval on Saturday after the Terriers captured a last gasp 26-24 win over the challengers based in Boggabilla, a stone's throw across the border from Goondiwindi.

Going out a champion is extra sweet for Sweedman, who was among the core group of people who got Texas fielding a team again after Covid, starting it up in 2022 and winning the title that year.

He was due to hang up the boots for good last year, saying he would retire if they secured the premiership again, but promising to go on if they didn't.

When the final siren went on grand final day 2023, the trophy was just about in their grasp, only for a penalty goal from 42m out to sink them by one point.

It didn't appear Sweedman, who scored his side's only first half try, would get the result he wanted again this year with the Warriors up 24-10 with 15 minutes remaining, but he said he "had all the confidence in the world" his side could charge home.

The matchwinner in the 78th minute came off the lock's quick play-the-ball, before he stood to appreciate the magic unfolding.

"I got a quick play-the-bal for Jack (Cleversley, Terriers hooker), who got a little scoot, made a bit of a break and but a kick through for Malik (Woodbridge, Terriers fullback) to score in the corner," Sweedman said.

"I don't know anyone else who scores that try in this comp.

"He just got the perfect bounce before it went over the sideline. I don't know how he grabbed it, mate, but he put it down and it was one of those miracle things.

"I half-froze to be honest. I just knew the siren hadn't gone, and I said to the boys 'we don't celebrate until the siren sounds'.

"We just had to keep turning up for each other. We love to get into a tight, grinding game, that's the way Texas has played for years now... but I was frozen, seeing (Malik) score, seeing how the boys were feeling, looking back at the crowd, I was a bit in shock to be honest.

"Win or lose, it was a cracking game. I've got a lot of respect for Macintyre, a lot of the boys there I'm mates with and getting over them is always good, but it come down to the wire.

"I said to the Macintyre boys the other night, one thing about footy, and I love the game of footy, but it's about what happens after the game, and I'm glad majority of the boys hung around for a beer afterwards and just celebrated the season they've had too. I couldn't be prouder of them.

"I would have copped a loss against them if that's the way it went."

While Sweedman, whose mum coincidentally grew up in Boggabilla, will "never say never" to a cameo appearance at a carnival here and there, he conceded injuries had caught up with him too much to continue regular club football. 

This year he battled a groin injury throughout the season, and he still needs a shoulder reconstruction.

But Sweedman won't be going far, eager to coach next season and do all he can to keep rugby league strong for the community, and particularly in honour of his dad.

"My father's from Texas himself... when I broke my leg, me and my partner decided to move back to Texas to be out here and around dad and once I moved out here, one of my good mates got me playing for Inglewood and I got the love back," he said.

"Once we lost that grand final, it just sort of hit a nerve and I said to the boys and to dad, 'I really want to get Texas going again in the Border league' and everyone stood beside me.

"It's a good little town and I just wanted to give back to dad and everything he's done for me."

QRL Central region

Border Rugby League Men's Competition

Grand final

Texas Terriers 26 def Macintyre Warriors 24

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Round 18 results

Southern Suburbs Tigers 26 def Oakey Bears 24

Highfields Eagles 36 def Brothers Toowoomba 20

Gatton Hawks 50 def Pittsworth Danes 16

Dalby Diehards 20 def Warwick Cowboys 16

Wattles Warriors 96 def Goondiwindi Boars 12

Valleys Roosters def Newtown Lions (forfeit)

Final ladder (top 5 finals)

Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club Open Women

Round 18 results

Gatton Hawks 44 def Dalby Diehards 6

Valleys Roosters 30 def Newtown Lions 14

Oakey Bears 14 def Southern Suburbs Tigers 4

Highfields Eagles 40 def Brothers Toowoomba 0

Final ladder (top 5 finals)

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

Round 17 results

Middlemount Panthers 40 def Springsure Mountain Men 0

Dysart Bulls 56 def Bluff Rabbitohs 6

Emerald Tigers 30 def Peak Downs Pirates 20

Clermont Bears 32 def Emerald Brothers 20

Ladder

Central Highlands Rugby League Open Women

Round 8 results

Dysart Bulls 18 def Bluff Rabbitohs 0

Ladder

Roma District Rugby League Men's A grade

Preliminary final

St George 18 def Mitchell Magpies 14

Next week: Grand final - Roma Cities v St George

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Round 18 results

Maroochydore Swans 76 def Stanley River Wolves 12

Coolum Colts 23 def Noosa Pirates 22

Caloundra Sharks 48 def Nambour Crushers 18

Kawana Dolphins 24 def Beerwah Bulldogs 22

Final ladder (top 4 finals)

South Burnett Rugby League Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Murgon Mustangs 32 def Cherbourg Hornets 30

Next week: Grand final - Nanango Stags v Murgon Mustangs

Rockhampton Rugby League Men's Premiership

Preliminary final

Yeppoon Seagulls 28 def Brothers Rockhampton 22

Next week: Grand final - Emu Park Emus v Brothers Rockhampton

Rockhampton Rugby League Women's Premiership

Preliminary final

Emu Park Emus 24 def Brothers Rockhampton 14

Next week: Grand final - Fiztroy/Gracemere Sharks v Emu Park Emus

Central Burnett Rugby League Titan Industries Men's A grade

Grand final

Gayndah Gladiators 34 def Monto Roos 32

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's Competition

Qualifying final

Gladstone Wallabys 46 def South Kolan Sharks 44

Elimination final

Miriam Vale Magpies 48 def Calliope Roosters 0

Next week: Major semi - Isis v Wallabys, Minor semi - Miriam Vale v South Kolan

QRL North region

FNQRL Men's A grade

Elimination finals

Innisfail Leprechauns 28 def Yarrabah Seahawks 0

Atherton Roosters 18 def Cairns Kangaroos 8

Next week: Major semi - Brothers v Ivanhoes, Minor semi - Innisfail v Atherton

Zenadth Kes Rugby League Men's Competition

Preliminary final

Mulga Tigers 32 def Pioneer Knights 20

Next week: Grand final - Suburbs v Mulga Tigers

Rugby League Mackay & District Men's A grade

Qualifying final

Sarina Crocodiles 20 def Mackay Magpies 14

Elimination final

Souths Sharks 20 def Moranbah Miners 18

Next week: Major semi - Brothers v Sarina, Minor semi - Magpies v Souths

Rugby League Mackay & District Women's A grade

Qualifying final

Mackay Magpies 10 def Moranbah Miners 0

Elimination final

Sarina Crocodiles 22 def Carltons Devils 6

Next week: Major semi - Brothers v Magpies, Minor semi - Moranbah v Sarina

Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade

Round 18 results

Charters Towers Miners 54 def Centrals Tigers 6

Western Lions 64 def Norths Devils 10

Burdekin Roosters 14 def Herbert River Crushers 12

Souths Bulls 30 def Brothers Townsville 14

Final ladder (top 4 finals)

Rugby League Townsville & District Open Women

Round 18 results

Centrals Tigers 34 def Charters Towers Miners 4

Western Lions 72 def Norths Devils 0

Burdekin Roosters def Herbert River Crushers (forfeit)

Final ladder (top 4 finals)

QRL South East region

South East Premier Grade Women

Qualifying final

Goodna Eagles 20 def Currumbin Eagles 14

Elimination final

Waterford Demons 20 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 12

Next week: Preliminary final - Currumbin Eagles v Waterford Demons

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A Grade

Round 18 results

Redcliffe Juniors 82 def Normanby Hounds 6

Valleys Diehards 38 def Souths Juniors 12

Wynnum Manly Juniors 26 def Bulimba Bulldogs 16

West Brisbane Panthers 40 def Carina Tigers 22

Beenleigh Pride 32 def Brighton Roosters 6

Final ladder (top 5 finals)

Rugby League Gold Coast A grade

Round 15 results

Currumbin Eagles 30 def Helensvale Hornets 18

Burleigh Bears 32 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 20

Tugun Seahawks 30 def Southport Tigers 28

Final ladder (top 5 finals)