A late try to centre Shane Neumann has lifted the Easts Tigers to a crucial Intrust Super Cup victory over the Souths Logan Magpies at Langlands Park.
In a gripping finish, Neumann latched onto a superb pass from Tigers winger Jarrod McInally to dive over in the right corner to break the deadlock.
Just minutes earlier, Easts star Donald Malone had kicked a penalty goal from in front of the posts to level the score at 24-24.
It set up a grandstand finish in the final eight minutes as both teams threw everything at each other in search of the two competition points.
But it was the Tigers who landed the killer blow with the late try to Neumann. The match-winner came after the Tigers had received a penalty following a touch judge’s report for an off the ball incident.
It was yet another dramatic moment in an action-packed second half which saw the lead change hands on a number of occasions.
Souths looked capable of going on to win the match in the 65th minute when Phil Dennis sent Darcy Wright over the line with a superb short ball. The successful conversion put the Magpies back in front 24-22.
But it wasn’t to be for the Magpies, who have now lost a string of close games and are languishing in 10th spot.
One small consolation for the Magpies was their dominance in the opening 25 minutes.
They led 12-0 before Malone sparked the Tigers fight back with a clever ball that led to the first of Hymel Hunt’s two tries.
Melbourne Storm young gun and former CQ Capras talent Cameron Munster then brought the Tigers even closer when he stepped his way through to score under the posts.
Souths led 12-10 at half-time, but Munster and Hunt completed try-scoring doubles in the second half to again give the Tigers the upper hand.
EASTS TIGERS 28 (Cameron Munster 2, Hymel Hunt 2, Shane Neumann tries; Donald Malone 4 goals) def SOUTHS LOGAN 24 (Jack Ahearn, Darcy Wright, Mitch Cronin, Leon Panapa tries; Jordan Rapana 4 goals) at Langlands Park.
Final teams:
Easts Tigers: 1. Cameron Munster 2. Donald Malone 3. Shane Neumann 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Jarrod McInally 6. Liam Tyson 7. Grant Giess 8. Steven Thorpe (c) 9. Tom Butterfield 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Dane Hogan 12. Tim Glasby 13. Jacob Ling 14. Liam McDonald 15. Foisa Peni 16. Troy Giess 17. Joel Romelo
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Luke Archer 2. Ramon Filipine 3. Grant Cooke 4. Max Dudley 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Ahearn 7. Rhys Jacks 8. Andrew Edwards 9. Kurt Baptiste 10. Sam Mataora 11. Shane Duck 12. Darcy Wright 13. Phil Dennis (c) 14. Mitch Cronin 15. Leon Panapa 16. Rez Phillips 17. Josh Damen
