Statewide score wrap: 'Teary moment' follows Mulga Tigers gritty win

Author: Jacob Grams QRL community content producer
Timestamp: Mon 26 Aug 2024, 06:13 PM

After the mission just to get the team to the field each week, the Zenadth Kes Rugby League premiership is especially sweet for Mulga Tigers.

In a fiery grand final contest against Suburbs at Thursday Island's picturesque Ken Brown Oval, the Badu Island-based Tigers earned an 18-10 win through particularly solid defence, making it hard for themselves after some lapses in discipline.

There were tears in the eyes of players - and the incredible volunteers who have made it all possible - once the final siren went, and huge cheers from the hoard of travelling supporters and no doubt many following from fans across Australia who made their support known.

Even Badu Island's own NRLW star Relna Wuruki-Hosea found time to send a video message to the club to back the Tigers to glory.

Dancers from Island Stars led the supporters and players on to the ground. Photo: Supplied

Mulga Tigers president Hassan Nona said the game itself was a bit of a blur, but knew the moment it would be their day, despite trailing 4-0 early.

"The game was won in the second half - you can tell anyone this - Suburbs had three or four sets in the red zone and they couldn't score a try. The defence was top notch," he said.

"They played at another level, it was our best game all season apart from a few sin bins.

Mulga Tigers captain Zengrey Nona makes a break with Liam O'Cloudy in support. Photo: Supplied

"It means a lot. I had a bit of a teary moment on Saturday night, previously being a player myself, coming into doing (volunteering) and recognising what our players and volunteers do."

But the result may have been written in the stars earlier through a strange twist of fate.

Steering a dinghy through the waters between Badu and Waibene can be treacherous and take several hours at the best of times, only increasing when the wind picks up.

Nona said this year they'd consistently been dealing with 15-30kt (around 30-55km/h) going to and from in the regular season, so with a strong wind warning for Saturday, the best option was to bring travel forward to Friday for the players - which turned out to be just what they needed to be united.

"Seeing them together before putting the jerseys on, I knew the boys were ready, here to win this. You could see it, you could feel it

Players and volunteers soaked up the victory into the night, which was particularly special for Nona and other volunteers who have spent months gaining sponsors, leading fundraisers to cover costs and wrangling to scrape enough players to play and boats to carry them every week.

Mulga Tigers prop Jerry Ahmat hitting it up. Ahmat travels from New Mapoon on the mainland. Photo: Supplied

"We have a small group of people who help direct me to know what needs to be done to make sure the boys make it every Saturday to the game," he said.

"It was a headache every week trying to make sure we had enough dinghies to take the players in.

"At the start, we were lucky to get two companies sponsor our fuel, and we had to stretch that for all the games."

The flotilla returned home to a heroes' welcome on Sunday and it was far from smooth sailing, giving an insight to the challenges they face.

"It wasn't as straightforward as it sounds. We were supposed to leave at 10 o'clock and we got half way to one of the islands, Hawkesbury, waited an hour there for three other dinghies - one had to get towed back from Hammond (Island) because it had an engine problem.

"The weather was s***, it started raining, but everyone was still there waiting in the rain for us with the flags up.

"We've had heaps of supporters since day one."

Mulga starting their journey home, with Ken Brown Oval in the background. Photo: Supplied

A number of Mulga players will now be involved in Indigenous carnivals taking place in the coming months, including the Gordonvale Indigenous Carnival and Queensland Murri Carnival.

Other premierships titles handed over this weekend included those to Murgon Mustangs in the South Burnett Rugby League and Cities in the Roma District Rugby League, with Emu Park and Normanton Stingers doing the men's and women's double in the Rockhampton Rugby League and Gulf Cluster competitions respectively.

QRL North region

Minor semi-final

Burdekin Roosters 42 def Brothers Townsville 18

Gulf Cluster Men

Grand final

Normanton Stingers 20 def Doomadgee Dragons 12

Gulf Cluster Women

Grand final

Normanton Stingers 18 def Moungibi Magawas 12

QRL South East region

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A Grade

Qualifying final

Redcliffe Juniors 42 def Beenleigh Pride 28

Elimination final

Wynnum Manly Juniors 28 def Valleys Diehards 12

Next week: Major semi - Redcliffe v West Brisbane, Minor semi - Beenleigh v Wynnum Manly

Rugby League Gold Coast Earth Fleet Cup A Grade

Qualifying final

Tugun Seahawks 26 def Currumbin Eagles 16

Elimination final

Southport Tigers 34 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 12

Next week: Major semi - Burleigh v Tugun, Minor semi - Currumbin v Southport

Ipswich Jets A Grade

Qualifying final

Ipswich Jets 28 def Swifts 20

Elimination final

Redbank Plains Bears 42 def Fassifern Bombers 18

Next week: Major semi - Brothers v Jets, Minor semi - Swifts v Redbank Plains

South East Premier Grade Women

Preliminary final

Currumbin Eagles 20 def Waterford Demons 14

Next week: Grand final - Goodna v Currumbin

QRL Central region

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Qualifying final

Valleys Roosters 22 def Warwick Cowboys 18

Elimination final

Qualifying final

Wallaroos 44 def Past Brothers 24

Elimination final

Wests Panthers 28 def Hervey Bay Seagulls 22

Next week: Major semi - Waves Tigers v Wallaroos, Minor semi - Past Brothers v Wests

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

Round 18 results

Clermont Bears 54 def Blackwater Crushers 6

Middlemount Panthers 38 def Emerald Tigers 20

Dysart Bulls 40 def Peak Downs Pirates 16

Bluff Rabbitohs 22 def Emerald Brothers 20

Final ladder (top 4 finals)

Central Highlands Rugby League Sentinel Group Women's Competition

Round 9 results

Emerald Tigers 48 def Middlemount Panthers 0

Final ladder (top 3 finals)

Statewide score wrap: 'Teary moment' follows Mulga Tigers gritty win

QRL North region

Zenadth Kes Rugby League Island Rooster Cup

FNQRL Men's A grade

Rugby League Mackay & District NQBE Men's A grade

Rugby League Mackay & District QOHS Women's A grade

Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade