Grand Finals Report - All Senior Grades

Grand Final day saw the current crop of players create their own slice of Eagles history by providing a team to contest in all senior open grade finals this past Saturday at Pizzey Park, the home of the Bond Pirates. After a stirring and inspirational account of our club's history provided by the latest inductee to the Life Members Board, Tommy Keith, the players were under no illusion as to what their achievements meant to those who had proudly adorned the club's various jerseys previously and the sort of legacy the current crop would be leaving behind.

First up were the Colts who had endured a tough season with not even a full squad for most of it and having to call up reinforcements from the U17's to be able to field a side for the latter part of the season. Their opposition Coomera had reached the grand final by the most direct passage and in the early exchanges showed they would not let our Colts secure back to back premierships without an intense struggle. However Eagles were well prepared for the physical onslaught from Coomera and took their few opportunities when they had presented. Hard to single out any of the players as it was very much a team effort that secured this victory, however Ryan Jones option taking helped to relieve pressure, Sam Pagotto was always a willing ball carrier and outside him a tigerish defender in Will Dykes who very rarely missed his man. Up front Ahu Niuloa and Bryce Zygadlo were in the thick of it and Brad Tulley's accurate boot proved to be the difference that helped Eagles maintain its dominance in this grade and win the match 20-12.

Next to follow were our more experienced and mature players with the mighty third grade showing steady improvement on its previous showings in finals series. The 3rds were to return to the same ground where they were bundled out of the finals series the previous year when beaten by the home club, Bond Pirates in a closely fought encounter. The 3rds were able to go one step better by winning through to the grand final after getting up in a nailbiter against Surfers the previous week. The grand final opponent on this occasion was Palm Beach who had only dropped one game the whole season, incidentally to Eagles. The lead changed hands several times as both teams sought to gain the upper hand and with Palm Beach looking likely champions with little time remaining, inspirational substitute and physio Mike Paterson was able to latch on to a pass from a break by evergreen Tim Booth and Paterson was quick enough to outflank the opposition to take the game into extra time. Eagles dominated the first period of extra time and led at the break by 6 points but Palm Beach rallied to score a converted try with time almost up. However the game had one final twist as Eagles managed to secure possession just by half way and were able to obtain a penalty 45m out from the posts for a ruck infringement by Palm Beach. Daniel Collins, having played a game less than 24 hours earlier, had the unenviable task of taking the kick which would once and for all settle the outcome of this game. Unfortunately it was not to be as Collins struck the ball, the strong wind that had been hanging around, died off and along with it the chance for another Eagles 3rd grade premiership as the score stayed 24-23 in Palm Beach's favour. Collins although unlucky with his final attempt was all purpose though playing his 2nd game in less than 24 hours and there was more to come for him as well. Tim Booth was a strong forward leader and Jun Sugimoto again a more than capable defender. Mike Paterson provided some impetus from the bench and Jason North kept trying to the very end.

Well if it was not enough already to have one game last 100 minutes, the 2nd grade encounter was to be another that would have to eventually be settled in extra time though the outcome would be different than the previous game. Eagles were to suffer a last minute alteration to their lineup with one of their strongest players in Mark Terepai being ruled out after undergoing an operation that night prior that meant he was unable to take his place in 2nd grade. The Eagles opponents Helensvale came out firing in the early exchanges and showed that they going to be a formidable opponent with the closeness of the contest reflected in the slim 3-0 lead Helensvale held at the halftime break. Eagles were able to score through Aaron Grant to take a slender 2 point lead before a break down the left hand edge lead to Helensvale regaining the lead at 10-5 with less than a quarter of the match to go. However that would not be the final act in regulation time as Greg 'Bobo' Hill took a sharp chance and tie the game up at 10 points apiece. This would remain the final score even after 20 minutes of extra time so Eagles would secure its second premiership for the day, though this one had to be shared with Helensvale. Eagles players to stand out included Manahi Clarke who was everywhere in the first 40 and the experienced trio of Daz Robson, Greg Hill and Nigel Gill never gave up. Graham Thompson was to the fore in everything he was involved in and up front the tight 5 did not take a backward step against a bigger pack.

The 1st grade game was reply of the 2009 Grand final when the final result sparked celebrations of a premiership that was 21 years in the making. There were high hopes that those scenes would again be played out as Eagles took on Palm Beach in the 1st grade final. Palm Beach got off to a flyer and made their intentions clear from the outset posting 13 unanswered points in the first five minutes. This would eventually come back to haunt Eagles as they had little answer to the Palm Beach assault in the first half as Palm Beach turned at the break 16-3 up. The halftime serve did little to inspire as Palm Beach surged to a 26-10 lead that was reduced by 5 points when Ryan Jones scored from some good lead up work by his forwards. Time and the score line would not be Eagles friend on this day with Palm Beach holding on to win 26-15, although Eagles had won the second half 12-10. Josh Deane-Freeman was a willing competitor defending with vigour and carrying the ball strongly. John Kennedy was not found wanting and battled to the very last minute and was unfortunate not to dot down in the first half and Bevan Passmore was rarely beaten on defence.

All in all it has been a very successful season and as someone recently reminded me, although our 'flagship' side may not have got the result that we all would have hoped for, the strength of the senior club is seen by the representation of all our teams in the senior grade grand finals and in securing our third consecutive senior club championship.

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