BEARS REPORT
Burleigh fell two wins short of their second Intrust Super Cup title in three years; regardless, they declared their season an undoubted success. Here is how the Bulletin looks back on the Bears’ 2018
BURLEIGH UNDER MICROSCOPE
BEST FIND
Dylan Phythian came with some baggage from Newcastle, having lost his NRL contract in March after a second drug strike, but a mid-season switch to Pizzey Park resurrected the talented utility’s career. He proved particularly effective at five-eighth.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
It’s hard to go past Pat Politoni. The 27-year-old missed only one game and was great in both attack and defence, leading the competition in several statistics. He earned Queensland Resi- dents selection and again won ISC hooker of the year.
BEST ROOKIE
In a side filled with hardened veterans, Kai O’Donnell did well to force his way in and made such a good impression as a 19-year-old lock forward that he sealed his spot for the last 11 games of the year.
QUIET ACHIEVER
It’s almost no surprise that this honour goes to Hayden Schwass. The back-rower played all 25 games and averaged 33 tackles and 108 running metres.
TRY OF THE YEAR
The 100m team try finished off by Henare Wells in Round 1 against the Falcons. Defending their line, Sami Sauiluma took an intercept and offloaded to Try Leo, who ran 75m and beat three defenders before sending the ball through the hands to his wing teammate.
BIGGEST CONTROVERSY
A mini feud with Ipswich after Jets co-coach Ben Walker publicly insinuated the Bears used illegal tactics to win their Round 13 clash.
FEEL GOOD STORY
Jeff Lynch’s return to the ISC in July, 16 months after rupturing his ACL. The forward ended up playing seven state league games for the year.
CAN’T CATCH A BREAK AWARD
Poor old Josh Ailaomai. The 2016 premiership prop missed all of last season with a right pec injury, battled hamstring troub- le early stages this year and suf- fered a left pec tear in June.
BIG QUESTION
With Matt White retiring and Jai Whitbread on the Titans’ books, can Burleigh attract a marquee front-rower to help Luke Page out in the engine room?
BEST WIN
22-12 against Townsville in Round 23. The Bears scored twice late to clinch a tense match, largely deciding in who would join Redcliffe in having a bye for week one of finals.
WORST LOSS
30-28 to the Northern Pride in Round 14. This was one that got away; the Bears fell asleep in the last 10 minutes of the match and were punished by a Gideon Gela-Mosby try that Jake Clifford converted from the sideline after the siren.
OVERALL GRADE
At the halfway point of the season, Burleigh looked odds-on to win the premiership. They didn’t quite deliver on that potential but nonetheless secured a return to the pointy end of the competition.