The addition of seasoned NRL performers William Zillman at the back and Eddy Pettybourne up front has helped the Romano Group Seagulls move closer to competing with the Intrust Super Cup’s big guns, judging by the hard-fought loss to fourth placed Easts Tigers on Sunday.
The Seagulls went down 28-16, with the result in the balance until the final minute when the Tigers posted the winning try.
The Gulls got off to a flyer at Piggabeen, leasing 10-0 after just nine minutes with tries to prop second-rower Pettybourne and five-eighth Lindon McGrady, with the conversion of Pettybourne’s try by Michael Burgess making it 10-0.
However, three Tigers; tries in the space of 10 minutes before and after half-time (32nd, 39th and 42nd minutes) which gave Easts a 16-10 lead sunk the Seagulls who competed hard.
The inclusion of Titans-tough Zillman plus Pettybourne and Junior Kangaroo John Olive (centre) in the past two clashes, narrow losses to the Tigers and Pride, and energetic performances by fellow Titans-contracted player Ben Nakabuwai, has added some solidarity around the efforts of their young Seagulls teammates.
Zillman, in his first game back from a calf injuries that had sidelined him for two months, was a steadying influence at fullback with tenacious defence and his talk in attack. He was rewarded with a try in the 68th minute which brought the score to 22-16 and gave the home side the momentum to threaten an upset.
A try by Tigers halfback Brodie Croft, who earlier looked like he would not return to the field after appearing to be badly concussed, gave Easts victory.
Seagulls coach Aaron Zimmerle admitted his shock at seeing Croft return to the field.
“I thought for sure he wouldn’t be coming back in after he defended in our line,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“We’ve had blokes who have bumped their head and had a headache and they rub them out so that surprised me.”
Zimmerle praised forwards Ben Nakubuwai, Carne Doyle-Manga and Lamar Liolevave were also among the Gulls’ best.
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EASTS TIGERS 28 (Brodie Croft 2, Jarrod McInally, Adam Crear, Mat Pitman tries; Adam Crear 3, Billy Walters goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 16 (Edward Pettybourne, Lindon McGrady, William Zillman tries; Michael Burgess 2 goals) at Piggabeen Sports Complex.
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