A standout centre named after basketball superstar LeBron James ignited the daring turning point try for Wests in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup preliminary final.
The Bulldogs were deserved 39-27 winners over the University of Queensland to earn the right to face Brothers in a huge grand final at Ballymore Stadium next Sunday.
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The final scoreline did not reflect how hard the Bulldogs had to work for the victory from 10-0 down in front of an enthusiastic crowd at GPS Rugby Club.
The game seemed heading to 17-0 when impressive Queensland Reds backrower Joe Brial surged at the tryline, only to have Wests centre Lebron Naea rip the ball from his grasp as he prepared to plant it for a try.
The Bulldogs boldly ran the ball from behind their own tryline.
A Fletcher Spicer long ball gave Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu some room to shed a tackle. His in-ball put Wallabies backrower Seru Uru away. When Reds halfback Louis Werchon kicked from the ruckbase, the Bulldogs had advanced the play 70m upfield in an instant.
The bold play paid off because UQ’s ineffective return kick in general play found flyhalf Mason Gordon, who ignited another raid.
This time winger Mosese Dawai took off from halfway, veered in-field, left two defenders clutching at air and scored under the posts for the bounceback try.
Dawai must have considered his 16th try of a bumper season something special because he kissed the football before dotting down.
Naea said the plan was always to utilise the side’s big, fast outside backs.
“We play our best footy with ball in hand. We knew we had strength on the edges so even from behind our line you think about it,” Naea said.
Added Wests flyhalf Mason Gordon: “After giving up that early lead to UQ, we regrouped and our focus was on defence and being big and physical. Lebron certainly did that.”
Naea, 20, shares December 30 as a birthday with LeBron James which made it a little easier for his basketball-loving dad to name him after a then-NBA rookie.
His father Presley was named after singer Elvis Presley so the creative pressure is on for the day Naea becomes a father.
Naea’s impact on the preliminary final was non-stop. At 112kg, the inside centre has the frame to do damage.
He ran strongly, threw an early pass in the build-up to the classy David Vaihu try to set up the 31-20 lead on half-time and made another decisive tackle.
UQ came back strongly after the break with standout Brial crashing over the line from the back of a scrum. He was held up.
Midway through the second half, UQ centre Tom Molloy ran a crash ball off a 5m scrum only to have Naea clatter into him and again dislodge the ball.
After the breathless 51-point frenzy of the first half, the match was marooned without a point scored for the opening 20 minutes of the second half as UQ strived. A Werchon penalty goal and a Mason Gordon try put the game out of reach.
“We threw everything at them. They were too powerful and well drilled in that period after half-time so full credit to Wests,” UQ’s Reds fullback Jock Campbell said.
Added UQ coach Elton Berrange: "Wests defended really well. To start that (Dawai) try from behind their own tryline was incredible footy.
“We were beaten by a better team today.”
There were key moments throughout the preliminary final.
Flyhalf Chace Oates having a clearing kick charged down was turned into seven points by impressive two-try Wests forward Angelo Smith.
Uni led for the last time at 20-17 after a fine try. Reds winger Mac Grealy skipped, stepped and drew two defenders so his pass put Brial into a big hole.
Brial’s left foot step shook another defender before his pass put teenage winger Samuela Tuisau over for his 10th try of a breakout year.
The grand final will be a beauty with the quality of players on show.
For Wests, Uru, Vunivalu, Werchon, Connor Anderson, Angelo Smith, Ethan Dobbins and David Vaihu have all played Super Rugby this year.
For Brothers, ringmaster James O’Connor, lock Ryan Smith, Dre Pakeho and Will Cartwright have all played for the Reds this season while Western Force prop Harry Hoopert is a former Brothers Colt.
WESTS 39
Tries: Angelo Smith 2, Mosese Dawai, Mason Gordon, David Vaihu
Conversions: Louis Werchon 4
Penalty Goals: Louis Werchon 2
Def
UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 27
Tries: Samuela Tuisau, James Simpson Te-Pairi, Friedrich Keil
Conversions: Chase Oates 2, Brad Twidale
Penalty Goals: Chase Oates 2
