Statewide score wrap: Currumbin fly high for first title

A rapid start and a defensive wall allowed Currumbin Eagles to win their maiden South East Premier Grade Women’s title at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday.

The Gold Coasters shocked the back-to-back defending champions with two tries in the opening 10 minutes, running riot down the left side, and added another just before the game paused for drinks in the low-30s temperatures.

Currumbin skipper Teaghan Hartigan was first on the score sheet, fullback Lily Patston nabbed the second and five-eighth Sienna Laing backed up to dive over for the third try, leaving Goodna wondering what happened.

With her teammates on the other side of the field tearing up, Currumbin centre Jasmin Morrissey took the onus on herself to make a difference, and she certainly did so, scoring a double in the second quarter.

It looked an ominous lead for the Goodna side to consider running down, but the team in their fourth consecutive grand final wasn’t about to lie down.

Currumbin made an error in their first set in the second half to gift the defending premiers a glut of possession in attacking territory.

But the only team to beat Goodna this year kept turning them away, withstanding the repeat attempts to crash over and forcing rudimentary errors with their defensive pressure.

The match turned scrappy as both teams were out on their feet, but eventually Currumbin extended their lead, again through Jasmin Morrissey, the 30-0 scoreline all but putting the game to bed with 12 minutes to go.

The eventual 38-0 result was soured when Lily Patston suffered a broken arm in the final 10 minutes.

Player of the match Sienna Laing said the team didn't have a plan to attack a particular side of the field - just to take opportunities as they came.

"We didn't train to do that at all. Obviously we have plays, but we were just playing eyes up footy," she said.

"We saw they were (defending) really tight on my side and my centre Bridget Hoy is just so fast, so early ball to her and she makes space, same with Lily."

The aim was to keep the foot on the pedal in the second half, which didn't exactly go to plan, but their defence them came to the fore.

"We managed to keep them out for five sets on the line, just pressure on pressure, but we managed to do it and didn't let them score which is pretty good against a two-time premiership team, but not this year.

"I think we really focus on culture and community at this club. Everyone just loves each other off the field, so that bond on the field is so strong and we play like family."

Currumbin skipper Teaghan Hartigan said the flawless first half showed "the potential this team has had since the start". 

"Today with start, 24-0 at half time, that's what it looks like when we hold the ball.

"Probably the first 25 minutes of the second half we kept dropping it, but the difference today was we just kept turning up in defence, so the game plan just went to plan.

"We've used 30 players this year, we lost three of our forwards in the last two weeks... so it was tough, but anyone that puts on a jersey we know they'll do the job and obviously that's what happened today."

Jaime Phillips watched the dominant opening stages in awe from the bench and was grateful to have such a platform to work from when she took the field.

It has been a fantastic year for Phillips in her second year of tackle footy, who adding the premiership to a XXXX Chair's Challenge win with Gold Coast Vikings and selection in the City side for the upcoming XXXX Queensland City v Country on September 22.

"It's amazing, we've been together all year and it's so good to get that last one we've been working on," Phillips said.

"It was really good to come off the bench and work for my team, because they were doing all the work that first half and it was good to come on at 24-0 to keep it going and I just had to keep the legs moving.

"To keep them to zero with so many sets on our line, it was awesome."

After soaking up the win, Phillips said she was looking forward to joining her Eagles teammate Shanarlii Peckham, who missed the grand final through injury, in the City side in just under three weeks' time alongside some of the most promising female players in the South East region.

"It's going to be awesome. I'm excited to be able to play with a few new girls, a few from touch I've seen play throughout the year, so it will be good to play with them just as it was for (Gold Coast) Vikings girls, and it will be good to have Narlii with me there as well," she said.

"I never thought I would get to that point, coming from touch and Oztag, I wanted to try rugby league for so long, and now there's a pathway for it, so it's awesome to be able to get this experience."

The women's XXXX Queensland City v Country match on September 22, as part of Queensland Rugby League Grand Final Day, presented by Ford, starts at 1.30pm, followed by the equivalent men's fixture at 3.30pm and the Hostplus Cup grand final at 5.30pm.

To get your tickets to what promises to be an action-packed day, click here.

QRL South East region

South East Premier Grade Women

Grand final

Currumbin Eagles 38 def Goodna Eagles 0

Brisbane Rugby League Premier A Grade

Major semi-final

West Brisbane Panthers 40 def Redcliffe Juniors 14

Minor semi-final

Wynnum Manly Juniors 36 def Beenleigh Pride 18

Next week: Preliminary final - Redcliffe Juniors v Wynnum Manly Juniors

Rugby League Gold Coast Earth Fleet Cup A Grade

Major semi-final

Tugun Seahawks 36 def Burleigh Bears 12 

Minor semi-final

Currumbin Eagles 12 def Southport Tigers 10

Next week: Preliminary final - Burleigh Bears v Currumbin Eagles

Ipswich Jets A Grade

Major semi-final

Brothers Ipswich 22 def Ipswich Jets 20

Minor semi-final

Redbank Plains Bears 26 def Swifts 10

Next week: Preliminary final - Brothers Ipswich v Redbank Plains Bears

QRL North region

FNQRL Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Ivanhoes Knights 36 def Innisfail Leprechauns 32

Next week: Grand final - Cairns Brothers v Ivanhoes Knights

Rugby League Mackay & District NQBE Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Mackay Brothers 22 def Mackay Magpies 20

Next week: Grand final - Sarina Crocodiles v Mackay Brothers

Rugby League Mackay & District QOHS Women's A grade

Preliminary final

Mackay Magpies 28 def Moranbah Miners 4

Next week: Grand final - Mackay Brothers v Mackay Magpies

Rugby League Townsville & District Men's A grade

Preliminary final

Souths Bulls 44 def Charters Towers Miners 26

Next week: Grand final - Western Lions v Souths Bulls

Rugby League Townsville & District Open Women

Preliminary final

Centrals Tigers 30 def Burdekin Roosters 14

Next week: Grand final - Western Lions v Centrals Tigers

QRL Central region

Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men's A grade

Major semi-final

Valleys Roosters 42 def Gatton Hawks 16

Minor semi-final

Warwick Cowboys 56 def Dalby Diehards 26

Next week: Preliminary final - Gatton Hawks v Warwick Cowboys

Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club Open Women

Qualifying final

Gatton Hawks 30 def Highfields Eagles 26

Elimination final

Valleys Roosters 20 def Brothers Toowoomba 8

Next week: Preliminary final - Highfields Eagles v Valleys Roosters

Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men's A grade

Major semi-final

Coolum Colts 10 def Noosa Pirates 4

Minor semi-final

Beerwah Bulldogs 24 def Maroochydore Swans 22

Next week: Preliminary final - Noosa Pirates v Beerwah Bulldogs

Northern Districts Rugby League Men's Competition

Preliminary final

Gladstone Wallabys 40 def Miriam Vale Magpies 26

Next week: Grand final - Isis Devils v Gladstone Wallabys

Bundaberg Broadcasters A grade Premiership

Major semi-final

Waves Tigers 54 def Wallaroos 18

Minor semi-final

Past Brothers 34 def Wests Panthers 10

Next week: Preliminary final - Wallaroos v Past Brothers

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

Qualifying final

Bluff Rabbitohs 26 def Middlemount Panthers 18

Elimination final

Clermont Bears 20 def Dysart Bulls 18

Next week: Preliminary final - Middlemount Panthers v Clermont Beatrs