Brothers and Easts have booked a major semi-final showdown at Sunnybank Rugby Club next Sunday in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.
The make-up of the finals series across all grades was settled in the final round of fixtures.
The script was not without some late drama with GPS racing to a 24-0 lead over Easts at Ashgrove on Saturday. If that upset had unfolded, it would have pitched Wests into the the top two and the double-chance semi-final.
Instead, the Tigers found their claws and mauled GPS 50-31 with an impressive comeback built on their 2025 staples, a clinical rolling maul and smart runners directed by halfback general Eli Pilz.
A bullocking Andrew Ready rolling maul try pushed the Tigers ahead 31-24 on the hour mark. A double cutout pass from Pilz to put hard-running backrower Tau Tuisamoa over was typical of the halfback's influence.
The second-placed Tigers will meet Brothers at 3.10pm next Sunday at Sunnybank in the major semi-final. The minor semi-final between Wests and Bond University will be played at 12.35pm at the same venue on the same day.
Bond Uni will enter the knockout semi with some confidence after their sixth win a row, a 60-26 victory over Norths at Courtney Field.
A strong turnout of Queensland Reds players spiced the final round.
Sunnybank enjoyed the services of prop Sef Fa'agase and back Filipo Daugunu, in his club debut, for a 35-27 success over University of Queensland.
It was a fine finish to the season for the Dragons with stalwart winger Junior Laloifi scooting down the left touchline for a try to celebrate his 100th Premier Rugby game milestone.
Reds halfback Kalani Thomas did everything he could for UQ with an early try and a sharp, long pass for another.
At Crosby Park, Brothers locked up the minor premiership with a 29-14 win over Souths, who had Seru Uru in the backrow.
Brothers hooker Theo Fourie (crossed for two rolling maul tries in the opening 10 minutes to set the tone. By full-time, hookers Fourie (three) and Dom Fraser had scored four and wingers went without.
Both semi-finals in the Hospital Cup and women’s StoreLocal Founders Cup will be played on Sunday, August 17 at Sunnybank Rugby Club during a full day involving finals matches in other grades.
Unbeaten Wests will meet three-time premiers Bond University in a highly-appealing major semi-final in the Founders Cup. Easts and Sunnybank will meet in the minor semi-final.
The focus will be at GPS Rugby Club on Saturday, August 16 when both semi-finals in second grade and Colts 1 will be played at Ashgrove on a bumper day of lower grades rugby.
Tickets for the QPR Grand Finals – for both Saturday and Sunday – will be on sale soon.
@ GPS Rugby Club
Minor and major semi-finals for 2nd Grade and Colts 1.
Major semi-finals in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, Colts 2 and Colts 3.
@ Sunnybank Rugby Club
Minor and major semi-finals in StoreLocal Hospital Cup and StoreLocal Founders Cup.
Minor semi-finals in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, Colts 2 and Colts 3.
@ Norths Rugby Club
Preliminary finals in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, Colts 2, Colts 3 and StoreLocal Founders Cup
@ Easts Rugby Club
Preliminary finals in StoreLocal Hospital Cup, 2nd grade and Colts 1.
@ Ballymore Stadium
Grand finals in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, Colts 2, Colts 3 and StoreLocal Founders Cup.
SEQ Women's Cup and Barber Cup Grand Finals.
@ Ballymore Stadium
Grand finals in StoreLocal Hospital Cup, 2nd grade and Colts 1.
