By CLARE QUILTY
WYNNUM-MANLY held on against the Norths Devils, bringing home a gritty 16-14 win in Round 9 of the Hostplus Cup.
Well-rested off the back of a bye, the Seagulls were out to snap a two-game slide against the Devils.
The win rounded out a full day of footy at Kougari Oval, following the women’s BMD Premiership trial with the NRLW Broncos, an exciting taste of what’s to come before their season opener against the Central Queensland Capras on June 7.
After a back-and-forth start, the Seagulls hit the front in the 18th minute through Alex Lobb. In his first Queensland Cup season, the winger crossed out wide for his fifth career try.
The Devils responded in the 31st minute, capitalising on the Seagulls’ errors to score.
Chasing a half-time lead, hooker Temple Kalepo crashed over in the next set, with Alex Lobb adding the conversion to send the Seagulls into the sheds 10-4 ahead.
Momentum continued in a tight second-half, as forward Joshua Coric powered over under the posts, backed by another Lobb conversion.
The Devils struck in the 72nd minute, tightening the score to a nail-biting 16-14, but the Seagulls held on, sealing a home-ground win.
Defence underpinned the squad’s victory, with Seagulls five-eighth Cassius Cowley topping the tackle count with 38 in a tireless display.
Out-muscled and under pressure, Norths missed 45 tackles to Wynnum-Manly’s 24 across the 80 minutes.
The win shifts the Seagulls into the top eight, and a clear confidence boost.
They return in Round 10 against the ladder-leading Sunshine Coast Falcons.
In other weekend results, Redcliffe’s Kayo Stadium hosted the Mal Meninga Cup grand final, the Seagulls facing the Townsville Blackhawks in another pressure- cooker clash.
In a heartbreaking finish, Townsville edged Wynnum-Manly 21-20.
It was a strong showing from the Under-19 Seagulls squad in their first grand final since 2019, falling just short against a Blackhawks outfit hardened by decider appearances in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
