Top four contenders Brothers, Wests, UQ and GPS all claimed important victories during round seventeen.

Catch a review of the action below.

UQ 103 V Sunnybank 28

UQ’s star-studded outfit sent a warning to the rest of the competition with a mammoth victory over Sunnybank at St Lucia over the weekend.

Bolstered by the return of Tate McDermott, Jock Campbell, and Dane Zander, UQ fired on all cylinders in the opening half to lead, unbelievably, 70-14 at half-time. The Students displayed their attacking prowess by piling on ten tries in a single half. Skipper Pat Morrey was involved in much of the action while Kye Oates secured a first half hattrick.

Kye Oates added his fourth soon after the half-time interval as the Red Heavies piled on more points. Sunnybank showed some resilience in the second stanza, scoring two tries to the host’s five. UQ’s quality ultimately proved too much for the Dragon’s, the Student’s crossing the one-hundred-point mark in the 78^th minute.

UQ’s final position in the top four will be determined against GPS next week while Sunnybank will play Brothers in their final game of the season.

Souths 13 v GPS 19

GPS enhanced their final’s ambitions with a narrow victory over Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval on Saturday.

Souths had the better of the first half and went into the interval leading 13-7. The Galloper’s drew first blood thanks to Bernard Nickel before Souths ground their way to a six-point margin. Sebastian Hanna showed his pace to gift returning winger David Nicol the Magpie’s only try of the contest in the 30^th minute.

The second stanza proved more fruitful for the Gallopers as they recorded two unanswered tries. Hudson Meyer showed his craft to dart over early in the second half before Floyd Aubrey’s brute strength put GPS in a strong position with five minutes to play. Souths’ butchered a last-minute chance to win the game with a poor lineout five metres out from the line.

GPS’ need to find their best form to beat UQ next week and secure a place in the finals while Souths last game of the year will be against Wests.

Norths 19 v Wests 40

Wests consolidated their top of the ladder position with a victory over Norths at Hugh Courtney Oval over the weekend.

Norths came to play in their final outing for the season and led 12-7 over the competition leaders at half-time. After Wests’ flyhalf Mason Gordon capitalised on a Norths’ error to score the opening try, the Eagle’s switched on to win the rest of the first-half proceedings. Winger Joseph Veramu put on the afterburners in the 39^th minute to run ninety metres and give Norths the lead.

The Bulldog’s came out firing after half-time to score five tries to Norths’ one. Wests’ scrumhalf Moses Sorovi was instrumental in his sides attacking forays while lock Angelo Smith twice crossed the try line in the second half. Tempers flared in the second stanza as Suliasi Vunivalu went to the bin for a high tackle but Wests’ ultimately held off a resilient Norths’ outfit.

Wests will look to confirm top spot with a win against Souths next week while Norths challenging 2022 campaign has come to an end. 

Brothers 31 v Bond 25

Brothers finished Bond’s season with a hard-fought win at Crosby Park on Saturday.

A bruising first half encounter saw few points scored as both sides vied for a place in the top four. James O’Connor set up Sam Hyne for the first try of the match before Brothers’ skipper Paddy James added another shortly after. Bond created something out of nothing in the 40^th minute to trail 12-8 at the main break.

Brothers’ returning stars ignited their side in the second half with special tries. A clever Harry Wilson grubber kick gave Ash Watson a five pointer while O’Connor weighted a pass for Hamish Stewart to run onto and extend the gap to twenty points.

Two late tries to inside centre Tyler Campbell gave Bond a late chance to snatch victory in an epic finish that saw Brothers’ winger Sam Hyne produce an inspired try saving tackle on Hamish Roberts among other brilliant defensive efforts.

Brothers’ top four hopes are well and truly alive ahead of a clash with Sunnybank while Bond’s push for finals is effectively over ahead of a meeting with Easts.