Tim Ryan was the three-try hero of today’s 51-14 grand final triumph that delivered the Sumo Energy Hospital Cup for Brothers.
The Brethren roared into overdrive with four tries in 12 minutes to close the first half to blow Wests off Ballymore Stadium with a 24-0 flood of points.
Ryan, the Queensland Reds winger, was just one of a cluster of Brothers’ standouts. He was the key beneficiary of flyhalf Finn Prass’ superb display as winner of the Tony Shaw Medal as Player of the Grand Final.
Prass had a cannon in his right boot today. At the 27-minute mark, he launched a monster 65m kick to touch for a 50-22. Flanker Brad Hemopo claimed the ensuing lineout throw and twisted his way over to ignite the points avalanche.
Kiwi Hemopo, in the final 80 minutes of a career spanning more than 300 games worldwide, was even kicking for goal in the final minutes.
It wasn’t the day’s biggest showstopper. Brothers prop George Tuineau found sweetheart Ella Scott on the sideline and proposed minutes after full-time. Of course, she said "yes".
Fullback Benn Dalle Cort, unsung enforcer Michael Wood, at flanker, and industrious Reds hooker Matt Faessler also had big games.
Courageous Brothers captain Will Wilson had a broken bone in a finger piercing the skin yet somehow had it strapped to keep playing for a period.
“There’s nothing like it when you see ‘The Butchery’ empty from the Hill. You are almost suffocated by the fans running on but it’s the best,” Ryan said.
“We came out of the gates well and I was genuinely shaking my head at Finn’s kicking.
“As part of our game plan, we wanted to move the ball around because we earmarked that Wests would struggle with that pace at the end of each half.
“When we get the sort of momentum we did to end that first half with Brothers footy, we are pretty unstoppable.”
The Brothers' win lifted their premiership tally in first grade to 24 since World War Two, equal with University of Queensland.
None have been more clearcut than 2026 - 16 wins and draw from 18 games.
The game was only 80 seconds old when centre Henry Smith dabbed a perfect little kick ahead which Reds centre Josh Flook seized for a try.
Flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has dominated club rugby like the class Super Rugby player he is in recent months. He made a weaving 50m run to set up Wests’ counter through a lineout charge from prop Timma Faingaanuku. At 7-all, it was as close as the Bulldogs got.
Ryan was over for his first on 15 minutes after the ball was shifted initially through a pure 15m long ball was Prass.
The Hemopo try followed before Dalle Cort sliced through for his in midfield where Wests centre Vilikesa Raboiliku was powerless to cover on his sore hamstring.
Late in the half, Prass poked his body through the line and fed a one-handed pass to Ryan for his second. Prass was over himself from 60m out right on half-time after Hemopo had turned a dodgy Wests kick into gold.
The Bulldogs regrouped to start the second half but the damage was done.
Just past the hour mark, Faessler had two strong involvements in a try to Henry Smith.
More than 5000 fans across the day's three grand finals gave Ballymore its best atmosphere of the year.
Late in the game, Flook dashed 35m to feed Ryan for the hat-trick try.
“It’s a great feeling. A big part of that is giving back to a club and people who have supported me through this rollercoaster that is rugby over the past 10 years,” Faessler said.
“It does taste good after you’ve lost a Colts 1 grand final (2017) and a first grade grand final (2019).
“Our game plan to expose them at the back end of the first half worked to a tee. Guys like Finny Prass and Brad had big games but a guy like Michael Wood doesn’t get the flowers too often. He deserves to because he plays physical and silenced some of their big ball-carriers.”
Brothers coach Ben McCormack said the late loss in last year’s grand final had spurred the team on all season.
“There was no way we were taking the foot off the pedal as we did last year. I’m really proud of the boys,” McCormack said.
“To see Finn manage a game like that was outstanding.
“Brad is an outstanding person. He thought it really important that Vice (Latu) play No.8 because it’s his time. Brad was happy to shift to No.7 and you’ve seen how he has been playing.”
Second grade produced another thrilling finish to a weekend of grand final drama.
Brothers centre Josh Takai twisted is way over for a try with time up to level the scores. Fullback Athen Waia-McGuiggan knocked over the angled conversion to win it 33-31 over Wests.
In the Colts 1 grand final, flying winger Edward Lyons dashed over from 60m out for the final try on full-time for Bond University’s 31-15 win over Souths. It was the Bull Sharks’ first Colts 1 premiership and 136kg prop Jonah Rangiwai relished the breakthrough.
“Unreal. We made a bit of history for the club,” Rangiwai said after his strong scrummaging performance and an explosive run or two.
BROTHERS 51
Tries: Tim Ryan 3, Finn Prass, Brad Hemopo, Josh Flook, Benn Dalle Cort, Henry Smith
Conversions: Benn Dalle Cort 3, Brad Hemopo
Penalty goal: Brad Hemopo
Defeated
WESTS 14
Tries: Timma Faingaanuku, Jone Tiko
Conversion: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 2
Half-time: Brothers 36-Wests 7
Second grade: Brothers 33 d Wests 31
Colts 1: Bond University 31 d Souths 15
