The Sunshine Coast Falcons proved too strong for PNG Hunters at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday, while a second half comeback from Easts Tigers at Langlands Park wasn't enough to get the home side over the line against the Ipswich Jets.
Sunshine Coast Falcons d PNG Hunters 60-6
Hooker Harry Grant scored a double and Jordin Leiu - a member of the inaugural Under 20 Thunderbolts side - scored in his Intrust Super Cup debut, while winger Jono Reuben picked up his second hat-trick in as many weeks.
The Hunters started the game well and showed plenty of intent, sending centre Brandon Nima over the line on the left edge in the 20th minute.
However, that was the only time the visitors hit the scoreboard all match, trailing the Falcons 26-6 at halftime.
"It was an important win - we are down on troops at the moment and we are using our full squad... our depth is really being tested," Falcons head coach Eric Smith said.
"There are probably nine players who would normally be in the 17 who weren’t in the team today (including star performers Cooper Johns and Nicho Hynes), but I thought everyone who came in did a tremendous job."
The win saw the Falcons hold the Pacific Allies Cup for the fifth year running.
Next weekend the Falcons face Norths Devils at Nanango.
Ipswich Jets d Easts Tigers 28-18
The Jets fashioned close to a perfect first half of football with only goal kicking letting them down and took a 14-0 lead at the break.
Tigers had all the momentum at the beginning of the second half, with Jets kicking out on the full from the kick off, gifting the Tigers a penalty to start.
Easts took advantage of the penalty, with recent Storm debutant Billy Walters scoring his fourth try in 2019 on the Tigers' right hand side.
Five minutes later Kelma Tuilagi crossed and the home side were down by just two points.
In the 55th minute, Tigers took the two points on offer and the score was equal. Kata scored his third try in only his second game for Easts and the Tigers were now in front 18-14.
Michael Purcell corrected the Jets when he pounced on a bouncing ball from Julian Christian and Marmin Barba converted to give the Jets back the lead, 20-18.
Hard running from Blake Lenehan gave the Jets an eight-point lead with eight minutes to go.
Walters was named Easts' first winner of the Alan Currie Medal for best on ground for Easts during Indigenous Round.
The medal was named in honour of outstanding former Tiger lock-forward Alan Currie, who played with the Tigers in the 1970s and was a member of the famous 1977 and 1978 premiership sides.
Tigers will face PNG Hunters next round.
