Queensland Country secured a Country double in the XXXX Queensland City versus Country games at Kayo Stadium, beating City 26-16.
The girls kicked off Queensland Rugby League Grand Final Day, presented by Ford, with Country beating City 12-8.
And the boys did not disappoint, following them up with an extremely physical and entertaining clash.
Country brought the intensity early and took their chance in the 10th minute when Jake Speed made an acrobatic put-down in the left-hand corner after a Harbour Bridge pass from Toowoomba teammate Chris Woodbridge.
They were in again in the 19th minute when giant second-rower Jeremiah Matautia bumped off a couple of would-be defenders to score in the right-hand corner, finishing the move with an impressive swan dive to take it to an 8-0 scoreline.
Country had all the momentum and were in again in the 23rd minute when City fullback Ono Sooialo couldn't get near a towering torpedo from halfback Woodbridge, with another Toowoomba teammate, Joseph Vite, there to pick up the scraps. Woodbridge converted to make it 14-0.
City worked their way back into the grind and were eventually rewarded when crafty halfback Brayden Torpy's short pass had Reed Young through a huge hole and over to score, and with Nathan Brown's conversion they were back in the game at 14-6 - eventually the half-time score.
The second half was an arm-wrestle for the early stages and momentum looked to be turning in City's favour when Country second rower Jake Leitch was sent to the sin bin for attacking the legs of Brayden Torpy while kicking.
It only galvanised the Country side, who found enough space out wide despite being a man down for right winger Jake Riley to dive over in the corner, and Woodbridge raised the flags to make it 20-6.
City did eventually take advantage of the extra man, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga getting the perfect bounce from a Torpy grubber in behind to score next to the sticks, the conversion bringing it back to 20-12.
They were back in a few minutes later in the right corner through Deijion Leugaimafa and it was all to play for at 20-16 with 15 minutes remaining.
It was to and fro for the final stages before co-captain Blake Mara burrowed from dummy half under the black dot to secure the win in the 78th minute, converting his own try to lock in a 26-16 win.
Queensland Country co-captain Chris Woodbridge, who plays for Dalby, said it was a "very tough game" and he was stoked Country finished with the win.
"We came out firing in the first half there, scored a quick couple of tries, but then City turned it around, and we lost our way in the first half a bit and then it was really tough. It was a tough grind, the whole game," Woodbridge said.
"Honestly I reckon our whole team was good but if I had to pick some standouts it would have to be Jack Pattie, our winger Jake Speed and big Joseph Vite had a blinder.
"I thought everyone across the park played really well and did their jobs."
Woodbridge said it was excellent to play with such a good atmosphere at Kayo Stadium ahead of the Hostplus Cup grand final between Norths Devils and Redcliffe Dolphins.
"The atmosphere was awesome, even for our game and the women's," Woodbridge said.
"Everyone came along, got into it... it was really awesome. No one has ever done this before and it was really good to be part of.
"Country double. I think everyone's a bit surprised us Country lads came to the city and put on a show... very awesome. Go Country."
Queensland City captain Sam Collins said it was disappointing not to finish on top.
"Very physical game," Collins said.
"Felt like we defended a lot in that first half and it took a bit of a toll on us... but I think we stayed strong in that first half and kept ourselves in the competition... we got close in the end there but I think too much defence in the first half played its toll and they got away with it in the end," Collins said.
"I thought our bench came on and made a real impact, I thought our middles came on and changed a bit of momentum in our favour... as you could tell, in the back end of that first half, and the start of the second half, I thought we really changed the momentum with our middles and we got a bit of go-forward... so our middles coming off the bench were the standouts for us."
Collins said despite the result, it was good to be part of the game.
"It was good, first City v Country game and I thought there was good lead in and a good atmosphere around the group so I was really excited to come out and see what we could do on the footy field... good group of guys from across southeast Queensland... Gold Coast, Ipswich and Brisbane... and I thought we came together pretty well but unfortunately just couldn't get away with it in the end.
"Not our day today unfortunately."
