It was another weekend of disappointment for Storm’s Hostplus Cup affiliates, Brisbane Tigers and Sunshine Coast, who both suffered defeats after falling behind early in their Round 12 matches at the weekend.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons lost 20-12 at Wynnum-Manly with all of the Seagulls’ points coming in the opening 24 minutes at Hervey Bay.
The Falcons’ two tries came after halftime with Storm’s Tyran Wishart continuing to impress, crossing in the 62nd minute when he dummied to the outside and then beat the inside defence.
Sunshine Coast remain in second place on the ladder, but are now five points adrift of ladder leaders Burleigh Bears, and have a number of teams close behind with only a three-point gap between the Falcons and sixth-placed Townsville Blackhawks.
Townsville continued the Tigers’ run of outs with a 30-18 victory after clearing away to 24-point lead early in the second half.
Storm forward Alec MacDonald was unable to return for the second half after undergoing a HIA before halftime.
With three consecutive defeats, the Tigers have now dropped to eighth place on the table after being amongst the pacesetters in the early rounds.
They’ll be looking to bounce back against the Redcliffe Dolphins in their next game on July 3, while the Falcons will be at home against the Blackhawks on July 2.
Storm player stats
Sua Fa’alogo – 80 minutes – 19 runs for 140 metres, 40 post-contact metres, 6 tackle breaks
Young Tonumaipea – 76 minutes – 12 runs for 117 metres, 34 post-contact metres, 2 offloads
Cooper Johns – 80 minutes – 7 runs for 43 metres, 29 tackles
Tyran Wishart – 80 minutes – 1 try – 15 runs for 123 metres, 29 post-contact metres, 1 linebreak, 4 tackle breaks, 25 tackles
Jayden Nikorima – 80 minutes – 20 runs for 116 metres, 1 try assist, 1 linebreak assist, 2 offloads
Jordan Grant – 53 minutes – 18 runs for 167 metres – 66 post-contact metres, 2 offloads, 23 tackles
Bronson Garlick – 80 minutes – 13 runs for 101 metres – 48 post-contact metres, 5 tackle breaks, 23 tackles
Alec MacDonald – 38 minutes – 9 runs for 77 metres, 13 tackles
Image credit: Jim O’Reilly
