Sport
25 June, 2025
Wanderers triumph against Town
The Devils are the 2025 Mount Isa Rugby League premiers.
Wanderers are the 2025 Mount Isa Rugby League premiers after a brilliant performance in Sunday’s grand final.
The Devils had to overcome an early deficit and a second-half comeback from Townies to get the job done, winning 32-22 at Alec Inch Oval.
A good crowd turned out on a perfect winter’s day to witness the decider.
After a dominant start to the game, Town put the first score on the board when Don Paiyala crossed the tryline.
It took 10 minutes for Wanderers to respond, with Peniasi Tausu levelling the scores at 4-4 with a try in the left-hand corner on the back of a Townies error.
That lead was extended to 10-4 just before half-time as centre Nesta Tutunoa scored under the posts with 60 seconds left on the clock.
A six-point lead was extended to 12 in the 48th minute when Sietoa Teesi Uitime scored under the posts, set up by a big run from Lance Cope.
It didn’t take long for Townies to respond, however. Just a minute after Wanderers captain Pekz Brown converted the try, Town put themselves back in the game.
Scores were then levelled with 20 minutes to go when Townies fullback Shane Simmons made an impressive steal on the back of an early kick before going on to score on the right wing.
With a quarter to play and both teams locked up at 16-all, it looked destined for a thriller at Alec Inch Oval.
But the Wanderers had looked the better side for most of the afternoon and managed to find another gear when challenged.
They scored three tries in the space of 12 minutes to race to a 32-16 advantage.
Townies scored a late one to bring the margin back to 10, but it was in vain as the Devils bounced back from their 2024 grand final defeat.
Jubilant captain Pekz Brown paid tribute to his players for sticking out the season.
“It hasn’t been easy but I thought it was a great grand final and both teams turned up and played it in the right spirits,” he said.
Winning coach Tim O’Sullivan said he was proud of the players’ attitude throughout the season, despite struggling to maintain roster consistency from round to round.
“The boys turned up for each other and I thought everyone who took the field gave it a red hot go,” he said.
“Credit to Townies, they’ve been in the same boat as us and without them, we wouldn’t have had a season this year.”
Town captain Darcy McDonald praised the volunteers behind Mount Isa Rugby League for persisting with the season and allowing the sport to continue with just two senior teams.
He said the late try before half time proved costly for his side.
“It was 4-4 for most of the first half but that try right at the end hurt us,” he said.
“I thought we played pretty well but credit to Wanderers, who were too good on the day.”