Surfers warrior proves quality

FROM missing the cut for first grade selection earlier this season, Scott Moreton was the man who rose above all to drive Surfers Paradise to a second straight undefeated premiership.

Moreton’s return to the allstar Dolphins this season, after spending 2016 in Bond University’s reserve grade ranks, was initially disrupted by injury.

“I missed six games at the start of the season because I had two slipped discs and two bulged discs in my lower back and then I got pushed down to second grade,” he said.

The flanker, 22, eventually forced his way into the top side and on Saturday showed why his grand final selection was warranted with a man of the match effort in a 34-21 win over Colleges. Heavyweights Surfers entered the decider as heavy favourites against an undermanned Knights outfit but found themselves engaged in a tense contest at Heeb St.

The scores were locked at 16-all with 20 minutes remain- ing and a major boilover was brewing.

“We had them under the pump and you could tell that they were very worried,” Colleges coach Graham Herlihy said. “I thought it could be the upset of the year.”

But a costly error by the Knights gifted their opponents field position which was duly converted into three points via a Kris Burton field goal.

Soon after, Moreton burst through a hole off a Burton ball to score a crucial try.

“It was 10 points in two minutes … so that’s what kind of broke their back a bit,” Burton said.

Moreton decided to switch back to the Dolphins, where he played junior rugby, to learn from co-coaches Burton and Tonga Lea’aetoa and plans to be part of the club’s push for a three-peat next season.

“At this point in time I am going to stay with Surfers. They have looked after me so I will look after them now,” he said.

With 37 wins on the trot, the Dolphins now claim to have the longest streak in Queensland team sport history, surpassing the Brisbane Roar’s 36-game unbeaten soccer run.

“Everyone will take a bit of time to celebrate it and then reassess what everyone wants to do, if players come back next year or if players are going to take two wins (and retire),” Burton said.

As for Colleges, it’s another case of so close yet so far but a proud Herlihy still believes they are the team to halt Surfers’ run.

“I feel we will be the club to do it,” he said.

EVERYONE WILL TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO CELEBRATE IT AND THEN REASSESS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO, IF PLAYERS COME BACK NEXT YEAR OR IF PLAYERS ARE GOING TO TAKE TWO WINS (AND RETIRE) ... KRIS BURTON