In a more perfect season, today’s clash between North Queensland and Port Moresby would be a grand final. Alongside Fairfield, North Queensland were everyone’s early favourites to take out this year’s Division Two title- but it was Port Moresby who shattered records along their way to promotion and the most dominant season in Division Two history. While North Queensland would be fighting desperately to stay alive for a shot at promotion, Port Moresby would be fighting not to be the first Division Two side to not win the grand final after taking out the minor premiership.

North Queensland Dolphins Port Moresby Power
1 Kris Radlinski 1 Matthew Bowen
2 Linden Drummond © 2 Deon Bird
3 Brooke Martin 3 Christian Bai
4 Greg Wolfgramm 4 Daniel Carter
5 Joel Monaghan 5 Marcus Bai
6 Adam Dykes 6 Mohammed Zian Ali
7 Justin Marshall 7 John Morris ©
8 Forrest Sumner 8 Paul Anderson
9 Malcolm Alker 9 Michael Marum
10 Lars Gjolnier 10 David Furlongu
11 Giovanni Piazza 11 Andrew Ryan
12 Colin Charvis 12 Wairangi Koopu
13 Brian O'Keefe 13 Tiri Toa
++Interchange
14 Ben Black 14 Ryan Cross
15 Raif McCallin 15 Travis Weatherall
16 Alwyn Simpson 16 Etienne Fynn
17 Caesar Ramirez 17 Semi Taduala

The game got started in the worst possible way for Port Moresby, Christian Bai making an uncharacteristic error on the second tackle to put down a fairly routine ball. The Dolphins responded with a very strong first set, with Matthew Bowen diffusing a dangerous Adam Dykes grubber on the last.

Both sides quickly settled into the game to provide fans with a solid opening stanza. It was back and forth football- with both sides showcasing just why the fans were backing one of them to take out the grand final. Whilst Newcastle and Eastwood would do battle to decide which side would take an underdog tag heading into the major semis, today’s final was to decide the new favourite. Port Moresby staked their claim early when Matt Bowen finished off a movement started by a Tiri Toa linebreak to score the opening try. Mohammad Zian Ali was unlucky to miss the difficult conversion, and the scoreline sat at 4-0 in favour of the Power after twelve minutes.

The ensuing set saw Port Moresby make some good ground, and the gain was improved when Joel Monaghan was questionably penalized for stealing the ball. Zian Ali made up for missing the early conversion, his penalty kick making it 6-0.

The champaigne form of English international Kris Radlinski heading into the finals shone through as the game continued, the talented fullback commanding the Dolphins’ attack with maturity. Whether he was making incisive breaks in the Power line or pulling off try-saving tackles, Radlinski was involved in everything as the Dolphins fought to get on the board against Port Moresby’s tenacious defence. In the 22nd minute Linden Drummond had a shot at goal after a play the ball infringement, but it went well wide. The miss was made worse by the fact Port Moresby regained the ball. The Gods are fickle, however, and John Morris was clearly frustrated when he failed to reel in a long Andrew Ryan ball. The ensuing set of six gave North Queensland their first points, Brian O’Keefe dummying and crashing over just right of the upright. Drummond was able to convert and level things up at 6 all.

Only three minutes later the game swung dramatically in North Queensland’s favour, Malcolm Alker getting a soft try after being put into a gap by Adam Dykes. The Power defence looked demoralized by the easy try, and although Drummond missed the conversion, the 10-6 margin seemed to dishearten the Power- who had probably enjoyed the better of the early play.

10-6 is how it would remain, however, with neither side able to get across for a valuable try before halftime. While the Dolphins’ backline shone for them, the newly formed combination between John Morris and Mohammed Zian Ali continued to reek havoc as the half drew to a close. In particular a late movement involving the two Power halves and Matthew Bowen came painfully close to scoring points, with only a desperate Joel Monaghan tackle saving the Dolphins from going in behind at halftime.

HALFTIME: North Queensland 10 lead Port Moresby 6

The second half couldn’t have started much better for the Dolphins, who were able to knock over a penalty goal after less than a minute of play. The two points made their lead an even half-dozen, and it could have been worse when Forest Sumner powered over in the 47th for what looked like a try. The video referee didn’t agree with the big Queensland crowd on hand, and penalized the talented forward for a double movement.

The crowd were treated to what one can expect from two high quality sides in a do or die final for the next twenty five minutes. There were no tries in the period, but the number narrowly averted made for some exciting football. Joel Monaghan must have felt jinxed after his third apparent try was thwarted by the gutsy sliding defence of Marcus Bai and his younger brother, Christian. Indeed, it seemed the only way North Queensland could get points on the board was through the boot of Linden Drummond, who extended their lead to eight with a goal in the 65th minute.

Port Moresby stayed in touch despite the more damning margin, their offense marshaled admirably by Mohammed Zian Ali. But no amount of trying from the Division Two player of the year could get his team through North Queensland’s desperate defence- and when Giovanni Piazza charged down a John Morris kick and raced away to score underneath the posts with only six minutes remaining- the Dolphins’ fans knew their side would stay alive for another week. Drummond’s conversion made it 20-6, and the Power players were clearly distraught that they wouldn’t be able to defend their claim as the best side in Division Two.

Joel Monaghan rubbed ash into the wound and capped off a marvelous night for the Dolphins with a try of his own in the 78th minute- the pacy winger finally getting across thanks to a deft Brooke Martin flick pass. Drummond finished off his night with a conversion, and the game finished at 26-6 in favour of the Dolphins. Not a true reflection of Port Moresby’s play, but an emphatic way for the Dolphins to head into their clash with Tamworth City.

FULLTIME
North Queensland Dolphins 26
Joel Monaghan
Giovanni Piazza
Malcolm Alker
Brian O’Keefe
Drummond 5/7
Defeated
Port Moresby Power 6
Matt Bowen
Zian Ali ½

PoM Points
Joel Monaghan…………….3
Linden Drummond…………2
Brooke Martin……………..1

Shit hey!!I think div 2's finals are all over the shop. Bad luck to Jelly, what a season from Port.....

I neva got my fucken formguides!!!!!!!!!!!

This should be a rematch i neva got me team or was told to send anything in!!!!!

I sent you your formguide on Thursday afternoon. A notice was sent out via the Yahoo! group on Thursday evening as well. You can't claim ignorance unless you decided not to read the notice that every ASRL coach received.

I swear on my mothers grave i neva recieved a yahoo group email or my formguides. None of this is my ignorance i thought at least you would have gave me the benefit of the doubt as i very rarely miss sending my teams in infact i think i didnt miss it once this season. I dont know what happened why i didnt get a yahoo email or my fomrguides all iam asking is a fair rematch.

You may have had a mix up with sending my other formguides doing Rabuals new and updated one, katherine Kings one and also the new updated one of Darwin that may have hindered your judgement of sending it out.

Its just a mistake may i please have a rematch. If i lose thats it im out but until then if i dont get a rematch whoever wins isnt the real champs until they know what happened between Port Moresby and North Queensland

a). The rules for rematches state that a rematch cannot be played once the results are posted
B). It is not my fault if you do not receive an email from the Yahoo! group. Other coaches received it, so I must assume the problem is at your end and not mine

Most importanly, read point A

awesome go nth qld!!!