Sport
17 July, 2024
Massive comeback thrusts Townies into MIRL grand final
Town was down 30-12 at half-time before going on to win 46-36.
Town is the first team into the Mount Isa Rugby League men’s grand final after a stunning come-from-behind win against Brothers on Saturday night.
In the final round clash, the winner was guaranteed to claim the minor premiership and book a spot in the decider.
For the first 40 minutes, that spot belonged to Brothers as they raced to a 24-point lead.
They bullied Townies through the middle of the field and were able to convert their dominance into scoreboard pressure.
However, these two sides have enjoyed an intense rivalry all season and Townies went into the main break determined they could turn it around.
Stand-in coach Sean Wade, filling in for John Doyle who was coaching the Queensland Outback side in Kingaroy, along with three Town players, said he was delighted with the result.
“They stayed in the grind and we got a late try before half time to keep us in the game,” he said.
“We just talked about staying tough for those first 10 minutes of the second half and stiffening up our defence in the middle.
“(Brothers) do have some good big players and our boys were lucky enough to get around them when the fatigue set in late in the second half.”
Townies went from being down 30-12 at the half to win 46-36, giving them next week off and a grand final berth.
Wade, who is also the Mount Isa Rugby League treasurer, said he was impressed at the level of this year’s A-grade competition.
“It’s the closest it has been in the last few years and I think that any team can win on any given day,” he said.
“I think the week off will do the Town boys a world of good, especially those coming back from the Outback games.”
Wade praised the performance of Town skipper and halfback Marty Paulson, who led his charges well, as well as hulking forward Darcy McDonald.
He also gave mention to young fullback Jamaron Mothe and lock George Toby.
For Brothers, they will get another crack at the grand final when they play Wanderers this Saturday in a do-or-die final, which will be played at 7.30pm at Alec Inch Oval.
Before that, the women’s semi-final will be duked out between Wranglers and Cloncurry.
The winner of that match will play City Country in the grand final.
City Country won its final match of the season on Saturday in Cloncurry, beating the home side 18-6.
Wranglers will be the hot favourite in Saturday’s final, with eight players returning from Queensland Outback duties.