By Dan Elsom

Brothers still lead the competition despite throwing away a win at Crosby Park, while Easts narrowly edged out last-placed Sunnybank.

Wests secured an important victory over the 2025 champions, and Souths dominated the second half to put GPS to bed, climbing the ladder and keeping themselves in contention for a possible finals berth.

Easts 33-32 Sunnybank

Easts were lucky to edge out a narrow victory against last-placed Sunnybank at Biggs Field, as the home side missed an opportunity for a potential upset in the 80th minute.

Heading into round nine, the Tigers sat in second place with double the competition points of the Dragons, who held the wooden spoon position.

But those rankings meant little on Saturday, as Sunnybank proved they’re not to be taken lightly in this competition.

After Easts opened the scoring through powerful backrower Nuku Swerling from the base of the ruck, the home side responded through Jeneiro Wakeham who crashed over on a short line at the back of the lineout.

The visitors added another via Nick Bloomfield, before Sunnybank started to gather momentum as the half neared its end.

A disallowed try in the far corner was quickly followed by some brilliance from skipper Joeseph Faulalo, who charged down a box kick on Easts’ line and dotted it down for his side’s second.

Leading from the front, Faulalo also had a hand in the Dragons’ last score before half time, as they headed into the break ahead by 22-14.

The second half saw back and forth attacking sets from both sides, with tries to Joshua Uluibau and Connor Smith for the home side matched by Ed Fidow and Liam Saayman for the visitors.

A break down the right wing by hooker Quentin Raravula put the Tigers back in front with 20 minutes to play, and Sunnybank left it until the final minute to give themselves a chance to recover the lead.

With the clock in the red, Sunnybank were awarded a penalty 30 metres out from their line and elected to have Te Atawhai Mason kick for touch to push for a photo finish.

But much to the despair of the home crowd, the fullback sliced the kick and missed the sideline, handing Easts the one-point win.

Two bonus points were little consolation for Sunnybank, who deserved much more for their fight, while Easts will take plenty of learnings home with them as they continue mixing with the top of the table.

Sunnybank now find themselves 10 competition points away from a spot in the finals, while Easts remain in second with plenty of chance to steal the minor premiership from Brothers’ grasp.

Wests 40-38 Bond University

Coming off the back of conceding 76 points to Brothers last week, Wests turned it around in round nine to knock over the defending champions with a try in the dying minutes at Sci-fleet Stadium.

Wests drew first blood after 11 minutes of play, with powerful front rower Jone Tiko forcing his way over from close range.

But Bond hit back quickly through Deon Evans-Ao on the left wing, then were unlucky not to get their second a few minutes later as Kobe Walters was held up over the line.

The visitors scored again as Evans-Ao created an opportunity for Wilson Parata, then a yellow card to Wests made for an easy push-over try to the Bulls Sharks just before half time.

Netani Baleisomosomo kept his side in the hunt with a double leading into the break, making it 19-all at the midway point.

Both sides crossed early in the second half as the arm wrestle continued. Then Evans-Ao secured his double before Kohan Herbert got his own five pointer to extend the visitors’ lead to 12 points.

But a yellow card to Heremaia Murray for an illegal tap down proved the difference, as Wests who took advantage of the overlap almost immediately and put themselves back within striking distance.

Down by five with as many minutes left on the clock, the Bulldogs mounted phase after phase of pressure deep in the Bull Sharks’ half before the dam walls finally broke as Joe Fabish crossed for his second of the day.

The conversion from in front gave the Bulldogs a two-point lead and they managed to hold on in the final few minutes to secure a vital win for their season hopes.

Wests now sit in sixth place on equal points with Souths in fifth, and are just one bonus point win away from Bond in fourth.

Brothers 38-38 University of Queensland

Despite holding a 28-point lead at half time, Brothers were only able to manage a draw at home in a game that had both sets of fans pulling their hair out.

It was a fast start for the home side at Crosby Park, with flanker Noah Nielsen crossing on his 100th appearance inside three minutes.

Another three tries followed swiftly as the Brethren secured their bonus point with just 15 minutes gone, before UQ finally got on the scoreboard with their first real attacking opportunity through Oliver Foote.

And when Brothers scored their fifth just before half time by sending the visitors’ scrum reeling back over its own line, it looked as though it was shaping up to be a rough day in the office for the Red Heavies.

Down 33-5 at the start of the second half, University of Queensland had nothing to lose and no choice but to play their hand – and play they did.

In complete contrast to the start of the match, the visitors ran in four tries within 20 minutes, bringing them very much back into the fold.

Then a dart from the base of the ruck saw scrumhalf Flynn McDermott give his side the lead for the first time, as the Red Heavies looked set to pull off the comeback of the season.

But a yellow card to Foote in the dying minutes gave the home side the chance to push their maul over and level the scores.

The final conversion for Benn Dalle Cort would have been enough to seal the win, but it was pushed wide, leaving both sides deflated in this high-scoring draw.

The result sees UQ drop down into seventh place on the ladder, while Brothers still hold the lead in the competition, now just four points ahead of Easts.

Souths 48-22 GPS

Souths secured a dominant victory over GPS under windy conditions at Chipsy Wood Oval, seeing the home side climb within arms’ reach of a finals spot.

The Gallopers started well, scoring against the run of play within the first minute through Ben Johnston, then securing their second before the half reached its midway point.

Two quick tries to Henry Hourigan and Xavier Rubens saw Souths take a two-point advantage, before David Bryenton touched down in the left corner to extend the home side’s lead.

A penalty goal kept the visitors within one score, but they trailed 19-15 at oranges.

GPS kicked off the second half in similar fashion to the first, as James Martens darted from the base of the scrum and put his side in front.

But that lead was short-lived, as the Magpies ran in five unanswered tries in a dominant half, highlighted by a hat-trick to Rubens.

GPS struggled to build any momentum in the second 40 and will be bitterly disappointed with their finish after last week’s impressive display against UQ.

The loss sees the Gallopers drop down into eighth place, just three points clear of bottom, while Souths jump up to fifth and are just a bonus-point win away from a possible finals appearance.