Image: Brendan Hertel

GPS flyhalf Jason Hofmeyr kicked possibly the most important conversion ever kicked at Yoku Road after the full time siren to beat Wests and book Jeeps a spot in next week’s Premier Rugby grand final against UQ.

The Gallopers trailed by 21 points early in the match but scored three unanswered tries in the second half to take the lead with 15 minutes remaining. 

Wests hit back through winger Ben Navosailagi in the 72nd minute and led 39-34 when the siren rang at the 80 minute mark. 

But Jeeps weren’t finished just yet and controlled possession brilliantly deep in Wests territory, eventually scoring out wide through a sea gulling Matt Giquel. 

With scores locked at 39-39, Hofmeyr lined up the match winner from four metres inside a touchline packed with hundreds of vocal and well hydrated Jeeps supporters. 

The kick never looked like missing. 

“To be honest, we weren’t looking at the kick,” GPS captain Matt Giquel said moments after full time. 

“We were hoping that he’d miss the kick so that we could play another 10 minutes of footy.”

But Hofmyer didn’t falter and capped a remarkable match and comeback by the home side. 

“We had a lineout at the end and the message was to keep cycling around the same way and try to outwork them, it was all bodies in,” Giquel continued. 

“We identified a bit of space out wide and I was probably being a bit lazy out of the wing there but fortunately it came off. 

“We put it all the hard work in the lead up and got the reward.”

Wests were left heartbroken after arguably their best performance of the 2021 season. 

“Obviously it hurts. The boys gave everything all game and it really hurts to fall short,” flyhalf Carter Gordon said. 

“We were building well throughout the season and it really hurts to end this way. The boys put their hearts into it, we just came up a little short.”

Carter said a 10 minute period midway through the second half cost his side in the end. 

“We let them get to their set piece and gave away too many penalties around the halfway and inside our half. They kicked well and relied on their maul and that really hurt us. Those three tries back to back cost us.”

GPS will now face UQ in the grand final for the third time in five years at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. 

“We got the best of them last time, before that they were too good. We’ve just got to make sure that our preparation is strong,” Giquel said. 

“Uni are a quality side filled with plenty of good blokes, so we’re all really looking forward to it.”

On Saturday, UQ fought back from 14-3 down and scored a late try through halfback Kalani Thomas to end Brothers’ season. 

The Students scored tries on either side of half time to fight their way back into the match then took the lead on the back of some individual brilliance from flyhalf Scott Gale. 

Brothers regained the lead through a Nate Carroll try in the 72nd minute but couldn’t stop Thomas moments later who scored to seal the result.