The Beerwah Bulldogs are relishing a remarkable breakthrough premiership in the Sunshine Coast Rugby League A-grade men’s competition.
The boys in blue claimed their first title in the division since foundation in 1979, and they did it in style.
The Brett Hill-coached outfit won all 20 of their games and capped their perfect season with a tense 12-10 grand final victory over Kawana at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday.
Club president Stephen Hammill lauded the team.
“They are a special side,” he said.
“They really worked hard and played for each other.
“It’s taken 44 years for us to win one. It’s the first title we’ve won on the Sunshine Coast, so it’s really good.”
He said hinterland locals had joined the celebrations.
“I called into the shops and the people there were all cheering ‘good on the Doggies, yeah Beerwah, good job boys’.
“But the grand final could have gone either way.”
Indeed, the Dolphins had a chance to level the scores after a 79th-minute try but a conversion attempt from about 15m in from the sideline was unsuccessful.
Hammill said the team adopted a professional approach to the season.
“It’s something we’ve strived for,” he said.
“We sat down (before the season) and had a chat about the behaviour we wanted to see from the boys, and then we built on top of that each game.
“The seniors were aware they held senior roles and their behaviour reflected on to the kids at the club.”
He said the disciplined approach ultimately carried through to the club’s fans too.
They were called out for poor behaviour early in the season, before emerging as a key component of the team’s success.
The Bulldogs won the pre-season nines competition but were denied the winner’s trophy, due to poor spectator conduct.
“The league set a standard and they were our spectators, so they didn’t award us the title and we didn’t get the prize money,” Hammill said.
The club zeroed in on establishing a disciplined club culture, attitude and behaviour for the rest of the season, and the fans responded, including for the biggest game of the year.
“We stipulated, on the spectators’ bus going to the grand final, that our behaviour was a key thing. We want discipline on the field and off the field,” Hammill said.
“The community is looking at us a club.”
He said the premiership was an emotional moment for former players.
“We had some of them at the game, including Dennis ‘Slim’ Moroney, who was one of the club’s founders. He had tears on the night and got to hold the trophy.”
Hammill commended the efforts of Hill, who became coach mid-way through last season, and star players including Daniel Kidd, James Hill, Nicholas Jennings and Wyatt Reynolds.
Hammill said the triumph, over seven other teams, could kickstart the club for seasons to come.
“We’re going back-to-back. Look out,” he said.
“I think you’ll see a few more of our senior sides in grand finals.”
Dolphins’ delight
Kawana rugby league fans are savouring their own slice of history.
The Dolphins won the seven-team A-grade women’s title for the first time since the competition started in 2018.
They won 15 games, drew two and lost two, and claimed the trophy with a 14-4 victory over minor premiers Caboolture in the decider.
They also won the pre-season nines competition and mid-season Presidents Cup trophy.
Coach Geoff Wheeler said it was an amazing season.
“It was a great run,” he said.
“We’ve had this goal for a long time, to be the first Kawana women’s side to win an A-grade grand final.
“They dedicated a lot of time to training hard. They wanted it so much and worked for it.
“It’s a sensational group of very talented players, who really stood up when it counted. I’m very proud of them.”
The team included an array of players from different backgrounds.
“They have come from different sports, like touch, AFL and rugby sevens,” Wheeler said.
“We also have some young ones who have come through the Dolphins’ junior ranks, and we have some experienced players, so it’s a really good mix.”
The Dolphins lost last year’s grand final to Caloundra, after leading 14-0.
The made sure of things this time around.
“I made sure that wasn’t going to happen again,” Wheeler said.
“At half-time, it was something they were told wasn’t going to happen again.
“They had to work hard, and they did. They worked hard in defence, which was the cornerstone of winning the match.”
They also had to overcome the absence of arguably their best forward, Krystal Must, for much of the final, after she suffered an injury just 10 minutes in.
The likes of lock Rhemy Hinckesman and centre/five-eighth Lauren Sims played key roles for the team, during the season and in the final.
Wheeler said he and many of the players were eager to return next year.
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.
