Deja vu all over again for hungry Seahawks

TUGUN coach Martin Griese sees elements of history repeating itself in his side’s quest for back-to-back Gold Coast Rugby League premierships.

Again it was a Queensland Cup club who spectacularly burst out of the blocks – Tweed Heads in 2016, Burleigh this time around – before the Seahawks have gradually reeled in the competition.

Tugun on Saturday clinched an 18-10 victory at Pizzey Park to throw the title race wide open.

“Yeah, a bit of déjà vu,” Griese said, adding the key to the win had been applying consistent pressure.

“Burleigh like to bully teams, get out in front and stay out in front. As long as we can get into a grind with them, they are not used to a team that will go punch for punch with them.”

The Bears won their first 11 matches but have now lost two of the past three, leaving coach Stuart Wilkins to concede they had lost some momentum.

“We absolutely thought this was going to happen, we absolutely understand because we start so early, we know that there will be a flat spot,” he said.

“And because we have been winning games by so much, we haven’t had that grind and that battle. I’m not worried about it at all; I’m still confident that we can win the grand final.”

Wilkins said his side had gone close to scoring several times but were stifled by a hungrier Tugun outfit.

At Runaway Bay, a Daniel Kelly hat-trick helped the Seagulls to a 42-6 win over Southport.