A gastro-hit James O’Connor guided Brothers to a come-from-behind 33-26 victory over Wests in today’s StoreLocal Hospital Cup major semi-final.
The Brethren were behind 12-0 early before showing the superior composure and mastery of key moments in a decisive second half at GPS Rugby Club.
The victory pitches Brothers into the grand final on September 1 where they will endeavour to become the first club to win back-to-back premierships since the Canberra Vikings’ three-peat of 2001-02-03.
More than that, it was a bumper day for the club in general with first to fifth grade now through to grand finals as well as Colts 3.
O’Connor’s cool at flyhalf was critical. He constantly changed the point of attack, distributed the ball with fingertip control and organised the backline expertly.
Centre Grason Makara was another who shone in the backs after injury forced Dre Pakeho off early.
An early scuffle with Wests rival Charlie Tupu seemed to fire up Makara because he became a constant asset with his deceptive footwork and running.
“I feel like the push-and-shove got me going. Wests were good so we had to really work for that,” Makara said.
“Having James there made all the difference with the time he has and keeping it pretty simple.”
The Brethren had club legends Tony Shaw and Paul McLean address the first grade team last Thursday night. Their message was to embrace the challenge of going back-to-back by turning up for each other when the going got tough.
Up front, flanker Michael Wood had another powerful game of ball-carries and breakdown work.
For delighted lock Ryan Smith, it was a winning end to a big, sleep-deprived week.
He was straight off to the hospital after playing in the final regular season game a week ago to share in the birth of his first son, Fletcher.
Wests made the perfect start with Queensland Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu leaping high to grab the opening kick-off. The ball was spun to left and Tupu was dotting down for the first try inside 90 seconds.
Wests flyhalf Mason Gordon had a strong game himself. He threw the long pass to set up the opening try and threw another to fullback Mosese Dawai to set up the Henry Speight try for 12-0.
Halfback Louis Werchon was non-stop for Wests, even preventing a Dom Fraser try when holding him up over the line in the second half.
The Brethren found their strikeback try after 26 minutes when the ball went crisply through five sets of hands from a tap to put Bas Hanna over in the corner.
Brothers reverted to more traditional means for their second try when prop George Tuineau surging over from a rolling maul drive off a lineout.
That closed the gap to 19-14 at half-time and Brothers had the wind in the second half.
Brothers got the jump after the break. O’Connor caught a high kick and somehow managed to slip a ball away to Hanna. The attacking platform gave headgeared halfback Isaac Tarabay the chance to scoot over from the ruckbase for 21-19.
Hooker Dom Fraser has been scoring tries like the best wingers once did but without a sidestep or a chip-and-chase in sight.
He’s the head-down, leg-driving maul rudder. Try No.16 for the season pushed his side ahead 26-19.
The game was headed for a grandstand finish at 26-all when Vunivalu crossed untouched after Gordon and Speight had opened up Brothers.
Fraser’s 17th try of the season, another rolling maul drive, won the day for the Brethren 12 minutes from time.
Vunivalu’s 80-minute showing was a positive after eight weeks off mending a knee issue.
“Credit to James. He did a great job of moving the point of contact all the time,” Wests coach Elwee Prinsloo said.
“We didn’t show the composure we needed to by conceding penalties too easily.”
The Bulldogs will have to regroup for the preliminary final where they will play the winner of Sunday’s minor semi-final between Souths and University of Queensland at Sunnybank Rugby Club.
BROTHERS 33
Tries: Dom Fraser 2, Isaac Tarabay, Bas Hanna, George Tuineau
Conversions: James O’Connor 4
Def
WESTS 26
Tries: Henry Speight, Mosese Dawai, Suliasi Vunivalu, Charlie Tupu
Conversions: Louis Werchon 3
