Blackhawks bring best but fall short
AFTER a rollercoaster year on and off the field, the Blackhawks under-21s were left only with heartbreak.
A field goal from Wynnum-manly halfback Max Plath eight minutes into golden point was the final blow to the club’s premiership aspirations in a 17-16 grand final loss.
But coach David Elliott refused to let his players drop their heads.
While it was a sombre mood in the Blackhawks dressing sheds at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe, the departing Elliott said his players deserved to feel proud
of their performance this season and in the grand final.
It was a decider played at breakneck speed and physicality, as the Blackhawks constantly proved they were up to the task of matching their rivals in attitude.
But in the end the Townsville club proved its own worst enemy with a dropped ball late in extra time gifting the Seagulls the opportunity to strike the field goal.
“To come so close and be beaten like that right at the end, certainly the emotions are really high and then it drops away to nothing,” Elliott said.
“It is a tough one for the players to bear given every
thing that we have had to overcome with the length of the season and the Covid breaks. It has been a really long year that blokes have been invested in.
“I guess one of the most disappointing things for all of us is that while we were so close and our defence was outstanding, with the ball we were nowhere near where we can be at. That burns a little bit with the group.
“To give Wynnum so much ball and not do what we would normally do with it. That was the game and Wynnum took their chances. My hat goes off to those young players in their side.”
The effort of the Black
hawks could not be faulted after they fought back several times to level the scores throughout the decider.
Tomas Chester led the way for the Blackhawks with the makeshift lock putting in a dominant performance in the middle of the field.
Chester made a mountain of tackles to repel the Seagulls, and scored two crucial tries with his 71st minute solo effort setting up the grandstand finish.
“He was outstanding, his will to compete and to win was second to none today,” Elliott said. “We had to give him a little break in the middle there, he did that much work and that much defend
ing. We thought we would give him a spell and bring that energy back at the end of the game, and it worked for us.
“I also thought Adam Mitchell was outstanding. He hasn’t played for three weeks and to come back and contribute the way he did was massive.
“I am really proud of them and I can’t fault their effort and attitude and the will to keep turning up for each other. As a coach, that is all you can ask of your troops.”
Wynnum-manly fullback Ben Farr, who left the field with an ankle injury before returning to finish the game, was judged player of the grand final.