SEAHAWKS GUN AWAITS SCANS AS SOUTHPORT REACHES THE DECIDER

TUGUN coach Clint Barends could be counting the cost of a highly physical victory on Sunday after a key man ended the match against Runaway Bay in a neck brace.

Interchange dummy-half William Johnstone was taken from the field by ambulance after being caught in an awkward position during a tackle.

While still able to walk gingerly, he was taken to hospital to assess the damage and determine whether he will feature again in the Rugby League Gold Coast finals series.

As of Monday morning, Barends said Johnstone’s CT scans had shown no signs of an obvious fracture. However, he spent the night in hospital and was expected to have an MRI assessment.

“It was just precautionary at the moment,” Barends said after the game. “He managed to get off the field and we just thought we’d better get him checked out.

“I thought it was just an awkward one where the bloke came in a bit high on him. I’m not too sure.

“I’ll have a look at the video. He’s a big body their front-rower so he’d have a fair weight coming down on him. He’s only a little bloke, William.

“It was a really physical game. They really brought it to us and then we were lucky enough to get away with a win.”

Despite the concern over Johnstone, the Seahawks cast aside the concerning setback to win 32-18 over a resilient Seagulls outfit that refused to go away.

While the likes of Tugun halfback Michael Burgess shone with two tries, and hookerturned-lock Jack Cook continued to make an impression in the blue jersey, a hat-trick to

Runaway Bay winger Walker Smith kept the Bycroft Oval faithful on their feet.

However, the Tugun forwards rose to the occasion and with that the hooking trio of Cook, Sam Meskell and Johnstone, before he was injured, dominated the ruck.

The win also marked the comeback of Seahawks fullback Zac Beecher, who rebounded from several weeks on the sidelines due to a rib injury he sustained in the penultimate round against Mudgeeraba.

While tentative at stages early in the piece, Barends said his breakout No.1 found his feet well and would be better for the run ahead of his side’s preliminary final clash.

“I thought he was pretty good,” he said. “He trained well during the week and came up with an error looking a bit shaky early on, but he hasn’t played for three weeks.

“I thought he settled and saved us a few times. We gave him a fitness test and he was 100 per cent ready to go.

“I’m sure they are still a little bit sore, as they usually are, but he ran well, tackled well and did his weights so he’s sweet to go.”

Tugun’s win has set up one last 2021 grand final rematch against the Burleigh Bears, who lost 34-14 to a grand final-bound Southport.

With Tigers star and former State of Origin hero Greg Bird scoring a double, the yellow and black army remained on the front footy throughout the contest.

The likes of halfback Zane Harris were able to control the tempo behind a feared forward pack.

“It helps when you’ve got Greg, Andre (Iro) and Piki (Te Ora Rogers) and they lay the platform so well,” Harris said.

“It makes it so much easier to play off. You are always on the front foot and it’s a quick play-the-ball that we can work off.”