Easts Tigers and the Sunshine Coast Falcons both recorded wins in Round 18 of the Intrust Super Cup.
Tigers outlast Jets
Easts Tigers returned to winning ways, posting a hard-fought 18-16 win over the Ipswich Jets at Tap Out Energy Stadium on Sunday.
The hosts were looking to make amends for last week’s loss to the Pride and were boosted by the inclusions of Storm listed players Matt Duffie, Mahe Fonua and Shaun Nona.
There was a lot on the line for both the fourth-placed Jets and fifth-placed Tigers, who remain within reaching distance of a top-three position on the Intrust Super Cup ladder.
The Tigers burst out of the blocks, scoring three first half tries to hold a 14-8 lead at half-time.
With an uphill task on their hands, the visitors stormed back into contention with a second-half rally, but ultimately left their run too late.
Nona and Fonua were among the scorers for the Tigers, with Fonua scoring one of the Tigers four tries, while Nona converted their lone goal.
Easts Tigers 18
Tries: Shane Neumann 2, Michael Kai, Mahe Fonua
Goals: Shaun Nona
Defeated
Ipswich Jets 16
Tries: Richard Pandia, Brandon McGrady, Billy McConnachie
Goals: Carlin Anderson 2
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Falcons score win over Seagulls
Melbourne Storm winger Young Tonumaipea played a starring role for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, scoring a hat-trick of tries as the Falcons trounced the Tweed Heads Seagulls 49-10 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The visitors were first to score, breaking through the Falcons defence in the third minute to register the first major of the game. But from that point onwards, it was one way traffic for the Falcons as the home side crossed for six consecutive tries to hold a firm 32-6 lead at the main break.
Tweed Heads captain James Wood gave the Seagulls a feint chance of a comeback, drawing first blood for the Seagulls in the second half.
However, the Falcons closed out the game with a rampant display, highlighted by an impressive performance from fullback Travis Robinson, who like fellow Storm contracted player Young Tonumaipea, played a key role in the win.
Storm's Billy Brittain, Kurt Mann and Suliasi Vunivalu also made an impact on the scoreboard; with Brittain converting a field goal while Mann and Vunivalu earned one try each.
Sunshine Coast Falcons 49
Tries: Young Tonumaipea 3, Sam Young 2, Rowan Klein, Suliasi Vunivalu, Kurt Mann, Johnny Vuetibau
Goals: Ryan Hansen 5, David Oakes
Field Goals: Billy Brittain
Tweed Heads Seagulls 10
Tries: James Wood, Karl Lawton
Goals: Ali Grant
