A spectacular late try to Storm’s Jayden Nikorima lifted Brisbane Easts to a come-from-behind Hostplus Cup win against the Souths-Logan Magpies on Sunday.
Nikorima was on the end of a move which covered 90 metres with the Tigers trailing 18-16 and in danger of a shock loss against the competition’s bottom club.
They ended up emerging as 22-18 victors in the Men of League Round to jump to seventh place, one point outside the top six that qualify for the finals series.
Tom Eisenhuth made his return from injury for the Tigers, playing 53 minutes off the bench as he eyes a return to Storm’s NRL 17.
Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast Falcons kept hold of second place by scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to beat Tweed Seagulls 26-18 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Falcons jumped to a 16-0 lead, scoring at better than a point minute, before eventually taking a 10-point lead into halftime.
They saw off a Tweed fightback when Storm’s Cooper Johns raced 40 metres off a break by fullback Luke Polselli followed by another four-pointer to back-rower Jack Gibbons, from a Tyson Smoothy kick.
This weekend it’s Country Round in the Hostplus Cup, the Tigers take on the PNG Hunters in Cunnamulla in western Queensland on Saturday (3pm), while the Falcons travel to Monto in Central Queensland to play the Capras in a 2 versus 3 battle (Saturday, 3.30pm).
Storm player stats
Jayden Nikorima – 67 minutes – 1 try, 11 runs for 96 metres, 2 linebreak assists, 1 try assist, 4 tackle breaks, 28 tackles
Bronson Garlick – 80 minutes – 12 runs for 118 metres, 50 post-contact metres, 34 tackles
Jonah Pezet – 49 minutes – 7 runs for 31 metres, 10 tackles
Tom Eisenhuth – 53 minutes – 13 runs for 127 metres, 1 linebreak, 28 tackles
Cooper Johns – 80 minutes – 1 try, 5 runs for 73 metres, 4 tackle breaks, 16 tackles
