For the first time in two decades, the StoreLocal Hospital Cup has been retained by its’ holder, as Brothers went back-to-back at Ballymore, pipping Wests by two points for the second year in a row.
In a seesawing game reminiscent of the 2023 decider, Brothers winger Sebastian Hanna got them within one point before 64-cap Wallaby James O’Connor slotted a penalty goal with less than two minutes remaining to put his side in front and, ultimately, secure the first club premiership of his illustrious career, Brothers winning 29-27.
"That was one of the scrappiest games I've been a part of but it was also beautiful. There were line breaks everywhere, great defence pieces, and a few errors," O'Connor said post-game.
"It was a mixed bag but we stuck tight and at the end of the game we were the ones on top. It's a great feeling."
There were storylines of note littered throughout the Brothers squad, from the first half try-scoring heroics of their young backs Dre Pakeho and Will Cartwright – both of whom made their Queensland Reds debut against the Welsh national team just seven weeks ago – to the physical performance of their backrow, led by 2024 Tony Shaw Medallist Michael Wood.
Fullback Patrick James played in his fourth Grand Final for the club, while lock Ryan Smith celebrated his first Father’s Day (following the birth of son Fletcher on August 11) with a winners’ medal after missing last year’s triumph as he recovered from surgery.
Arguably the story of the day was that of captain Will Wilson, leading his side to the win just seven hours after his younger sibling Harry, who played in last year’s StoreLocal Hospital Cup Grand Final, captained the Wallabies for the first time as they defeated Argentina in La Plata.
Harry Wilson was watching on in South America in the Wallaby team room, alongside fellow Brothers men in Hamish Stewart, Josh Flook and Matt Faessler.
They are the first team to go back-to-back in StoreLocal Hospital Cup since Canberra’s Vikings won three in a row from 2001-2003, and the first Brothers team to go back-to-back since the famed five in a row from 1980-1984.
The Bulldogs can hold their heads high tonight as they reflect at their Sylvan Road club house, but that won’t take the sting away. Winger Mosese Dawai, loose forward Angelo Smith and fullback Fletcher Spicer were outstanding, picking their side up to dominate the majority of the second half after heading into the break down 21-12.
Dre Pakeho scored the first try of the afternoon, a nice set play from a scrum giving James O’Connor the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to hold on to the ball for an extra half a second and create uncertainty in the Wests’ defensive line, before unlashing the boom young centre.
Wests hit back immediately, Angelo Smith scoring in his third straight StoreLocal Hospital Cup Grand Final after good lead-up play from Mosese Dawai, but the lead didn’t last long as a Will Cartwright intercept saw him celebrate in front of the transplanted Butchery on the XXXX Hill – undoubtedly making nearly as much noise as he would have experienced on that Reds debut at Suncorp Stadium in front of 23,000 fans against Wales.
The ding-dong battle continued, Wests lock Cal Hope being held up just over the line before their scrumhalf Louis Werchon was given 10 minutes in the bin for violent conduct, Brothers capitalising almost immediately through Patrick James for their third try of the afternoon following a quick tap.
Isaac Tarabay joined his opposite scrumhalf in the bin shortly, and a scything run from David Vaihu saw Wests take advantage to hit back, but in a massive play which would have massive ramifications as the afternoon progressed, Brothers number eight Brad Hemopo charged down Mason Gordon’s conversion attempt from right in front of the posts.
There was still time for a bit more action, a second Cartwright try being disallowed for a Pakeho knock on in the lead-up, before referee Damon Murphy called half time shortly later.
It was a different Bulldogs side after the break, with the momentum rapidly shifting as they went the length of the field for Dawai to score his first, which Werchon converted before he added three points following a ruck infringement a few moments later for Wests to lead for the first time.
From there they kept building, and a beautiful switch of direction from the base of a scrum saw Dawai glide through a sparse Brothers defence for his second of the afternoon, but Werchon was unable to add the extras as the Brothers fans gave him plenty of advice from the Hill.
Brothers knew that they had to lift, trailing by six points with less than ten minutes to go, but despite being presented with a myriad of chances heartbreak began to rear it’s ugly head, knocking on from a short lineout five metres out from the Wests line at the northern end.
Just as hopes appeared dashed, however, their front row redeemed themselves from the ensuing scrum to win a penalty, and a quick O’Connor tap saw Japanese replacement prop Hidetomo Nabeshima carry strongly to be dragged down metres out, with winger Sebastian Hanna going over out wide from the next phase.
O’Connor was unable to convert the try from the sideline, leaving Wests with four minutes to try desperately to hang on, but Brothers could not be denied and waves of relentless attack eventually bore fruit when they were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks after a Wests replacement was deemed to be not releasing.
O’Connor took his time – looking at referee Murphy intently to gauge how long he had left – before calmly slotting the penalty, and then kicking the ball into touch a couple of minutes later after the 80 minutes was up.
For the Bulldogs it will string for some time to come, especially with a number of their stalwarts due to find pastures new after signing professional deals interstate and overseas, but for Brothers it’s a 23rd Hospital Cup triumph which leaves them just one behind UQ on the all-time tally.
Brothers 29 (HT 21):
Tries: Dre Pakeho, Will Cartwright, Patrick James, Sebastian Hanna . Conversions: James O’Connor (3) . Penalties: James O’Connor (1)
Wests 27 (HT 12):
Tries: Angelo Smith, David Vaihu, Mosese Dawai (2) . Conversions: Louis Werchon (2) . Penalties: Louis Werchon (1)
Brothers: 1 Harry Hoopert, 2 Dominic Fraser, 3 George (Siaosi) Tuineau, 4 Ryan Smith, 5 Will Wilson, 6 Michael Wood, 7 Hamish Muller, 8 Bradley Hemopo, 9 Isaac Tarabay, 10 James O’Connor, 11 Will Cartwright, 12 Dre Pakeho, 13 Grason Makara, 14 Sebastian Hanna, 15 Patrick James. Reserves: 16 Oahu Davey-Phillips, 17 Liam Fletcher, 18 19, Noah Nielsen, 20 Richard Clift, 21 Mosiah Christian, 22 Benn Dalle Cort, 23 Finn Prass
Wests: 1 Timma Faingaanuku, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 3 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 4 Cailean Hope, 5 Sau Vaihu, 6 Angelo Smith, 7 Connor Anderson, 8 Seru Uru, 9 Louis Werchon, 10 Mason Gordon, 11 Mosese Dawai, 12 Lebron Paramore- Naea, 13 David Vaihu, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 15 Fletcher Spicer. Reserves: 16 Charlie Wigan, 18 Jone Tiko, 28 Bronson Tauakipulu, 19 Victor Olaaiga, 20 Bradley Kelegai, 21 Henry Wunsch, 22 Charlie Tupu, 23 Henry Speight
Full QPR Grand Final Results (Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September)
StoreLocal Premier Women’s: Bond Uni 36 def. Easts 12
Colts 1: Souths 31 def. West 15
2nd Grade: Brothers 38 def. UQ 17
3rd Grade: Bond Uni 24 def. Brothers 22
4th Grade: Brothers 32 def. GPS 18
5th Grade: Brothers 33 def. Wests 17
Colts 2: Souths 27 def. UQ 24
Colts 3: UQ 27 def. Brothers 10
