Cyril Connell Challenge

Dolphins win Cyril Connell Cup

by
qrlmedia
13/04/2024

Dolphins win Cyril Connell Cup

Author : Jorja Brinums QRL content producer

Dolphins win Cyril Connell Cup

Dolphins fire to beat Blackhawks in Cyril Connell Cup big dance

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Redcliffe Dolphins came out firing in the Cyril Connell Cup grand final against Townsville Blackhawks and kept firing until the final siren to claim the 24-10 win.

Dolphins halfback Noah Fien was first to cross for the Dolphins, followed by Amare

Amare Wynyard and Nate Berrigan in the first half, to take them into half-time 16-0 up.

The Blackhawks were first to strike in the second half through second rower Taakoi Benioni, then centre Cohen Dittman scored a runaway try to close the gap that bit further as the Blackhawks fought to stay in the game.

Match: Blackhawks v Dolphins

Grand Final – Saturday 13th April

But Dolphins lock and player of the match Charlie Dickson sealed the deal for the Dolphins when he crossed for four points at the 52-minute mark.

Dolphins coach Larry Dickson – dad to Charlie – said he was proud of every single player in his side.

“It’s hard to put into words how I feel… geez they worked hard,” Dickson said.

“Our aim today was to be the best version of ourselves… we just wanted to do what we do well and we tried to stick to that.

“How torrid our pre-season was, and let’s not forget after Round 3 we were coming dead last.

The heat and the flack we copped was pretty immense, so everyone needs to celebrate these guys for what they’ve done and the work that they’ve put in to get here. Their response has been phenomenal.”

Noting it was no mean feat to win five games on the trot to make the grand final, Dickson said the boys simply worked hard to get the job done.

“It’s no mean feat but we did the work,” Dickson said.

“I know there was panic stations at the start when we drew one and lost one, but us coaching staff knew the work that we’d done… we just needed to trust it would come to the forefront with the boys.”

Dickson said his side executed everything they had been working on in training and it showed.

“There was a moment towards at the end before we scored that last try and kicked that penalty where we just defended our line for three sets and forced an error.

That’s the stuff we worked on the whole pre-season and that’s the epitome of what we worked for,” Dickson said.

“For it to come out today, it shows these young fellas, how hard they worked, they’ll get the rewards.

“All of them put in the work. All of them.. the whole team, the whole squad, the coaching staff. When you win a grand final it’s never off the back of one person, it’s off the back of everyone.

“I put a lot of heat on my spine about three of four weeks ago and I think their response to that has been excellent.”

Dolphins Celebrating. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

Dickson was chuffed to see Charlie get player of the match.

“Charlie is just going to give you what Charlie gives you… he’s just a competitor… he’s not the biggest fella but he just wants to compete on everything,” Dickson said.

“Would’ve loved to play beside him.”

Father and son. Photo: Vanessa Hafner/QRL

Dickson added the Blackhawks, coached by Nathan Norford, were tough competitors and they should be proud of their performance.

“For them to travel down here and their response… we got out to 16-nil and they came out after half-time and really stuck it to us so full credit to those guys,” Dickson said.

“Very well coached. Their coach, coaching staff and club really got behind them as a group and they did excellent today.”

Cyril Connell Cup Grand Final Team Lists

Townsville Blackhawks

1. Lincoln Baker 2. Heath Bethel 3. Immanuel Kawane 4. Cohen Dittmann 5. Dylan Gourley 6. Marley Proctor 7. Riley Carbone 8. Quentin Ofahulu 9. Cooper Cox 10. Sitiveni Afu 11. Eneliko Savelio 12. Taakoi Benioni 13. Diesel Taylor 14. Chase Sheppard 15. Dane Ransom 16. Cooper Fletcher 17. Zane Bethel 18. Suafai Reupena

Redcliffe Dolphins

1. Dustin Appo 2. Bond Bradley 3. Logan Hudson 4. Jake Carsburg 5. William Whitlock 6. Carter Welfare 7. Noah Fien 8. Archie Maddocks 9. Amare Wynyard 10. Cody Starr 11. Brian Pouniu 12. Duquan Talaepa 13. Charlie Dickson 14. Sonny Herdegen 15. Nate Berrigan 16. Dean Griffin 17. Jairus Halahala 18. Jett Walker

Refereee : Jacob Gregg
Sideline Ref’s : Ethan Brown, Bridie Prendergast