The annual North Queensland vs. South Queensland fixture has met with dubious results in previous years, with poor support and the inability of the more talented South Queensland side to step up and win a game. With Brisbane’s Josh Hussey retained as South Queensland coach, the team would go into the game as favourites despite having never won one of the clashes.

South Queensland North Queensland
1 Mat Rogers 1 Clinton Schifcofske
2 Wendell Sailor 2 Rhys Wesser
3 Chris Flannery 3 Scott Donald
4 Shaun Berrigan 4 Ty Williams
5 Ben Tune 5 Matt Sing
6 Darren Lockyer © 6 Matthew Bowen
7 Michael Witt 7 Scott Prince
8 Antonio Kaufusi 8 Gorden Tallis ©
9 Cameron Smith 9 Nathan Fien
10 Shane Webcke 10 Sam Thaidy
11 Steve Kefu 11 Paul Bowman
12 Luke Williamson 12 Josh Hannay
13 Dallas Johnson 13 Travis Norton
++Interchange
14 Blaze Wilson 14 Neville Costigan
15 Chris McKenna 15 Travis Elken
16 Jason Smith 16 Justin Hodges
17 Casey Macguire 17 Billy Slater

The big Brisbane crowd got up as one as Darren Lockyer got the game underway, but it was the contingent of North Queensland fans who got the first opportunity to cheer after a string of penalties gave their side the ideal chance to score an opening try only two minutes in. When Paul Bowman tore through the defence and raced downfield, it was just a matter of catch and pass football- but a sloppy pass saw Matthew Bowen put the ball down in space. The North Queenslanders continued to control the opening period of the game, and Geelong’s Travis Norton capitalised on another penalty against South Queensland to take a quick tap and race over in the corner. Josh Hannay was unable to convert, but things looked grim as the North Queensland side took a handy 4-0 lead.

The try sparked something in the South Queensland lineup, and moments later they were able to cross for one of their own through Wendell Sailor. The big Queensland winger muscled his way through some despairing defence to score out wide, but Northern’s Mat Rogers guided the goal home with radar-like precision to give his side a 6-4 lead. Things got worse for North Queensland moments later, when Clinton Schifcofske left the field after suffering a heavy knock in attempting to tackle Steve Kefu. Billy Slater was brought onto the field to replace him.

North Queensland regained the lead in the 25th minute when benchman Neville Costigan got into space courtesy of a Nathan Fien short ball. Whilst the big forward was dragged down, his run got the North Queenslanders into excellent position- with Scott Donald finishing off the movement when he skipped out of a lazy Chris McKenna tackle to put it down under the sticks. The conversion saw the North Queensland side take a 10-6 lead.

Both sides were denied tries going into halftime, and while the fans weren’t happy, the halftime score sat at 10-6.

HALFTIME: North Queensland 10 lead South Queensland 6

The start of the second half contained plenty of nervous football, with neither side willing to chance its arm in such a tight affair. The 52nd minute saw the North Queensland side extend its lead further, though, when Nathan Fien sold a brilliant dummy and embarked on a dangerous downfield run. Once again his passing game proved lethal, and Rhys Wesser was able to score the softest of tries to take his side’s lead to 16-6 after the conversion.

Wendell Sailor was in the thick of things again five minutes later, the Tamworth City ring in scoring another powerful try on the back of some lazy marker defence from the visitors. The big winger kicked ahead for himself, and collected the grubber after the fullback failed to race up on the bouncing ball. Mat Rogers’ conversion put it at 16-12 in favour of the visiting North Queenslanders.

The finish to the game wasn’t what fans would have liked, but it got the job done. With thirteen minutes remaining a penalty for offside allowed Mat Rogers to kick a goal and make it 16-14. Two minutes later an identical penalty saw Rogers level the scoreline. A tense ten minutes was bound to follow.

With just over a minute remaining on the clock, Travis Elken committed football suicide when he blatantly raked the ball from Jason Smith in good position. Rather than risk it all in going for the six points, South Queensland’s Mat Rogers calmly slotted over what would prove to be the match-winning goal. South Queensland, after three years of trying, had finally won a match. It wasn’t pretty, but the result was telling.

FULLTIME
South Queensland 18
Wendell Sailor 2
Rogers 5/5

Defeated

North Queensland 16
Scott Donald
Rhys Wesser
Travis Norton
Hannay 2/3

PoM Points
Mat Rogers……………..3
Rhys Wesser……………2
Cameron Smith…………1

South Queensland coach had one word to describe his sides win tonight "Finally!". After a very exciting game you could not wipe the smile of Hussey's face. "Mate it was a hard game for both teams and I suppose you could say there was plenty of the Queensland spirit out there. Everyone put in a great effort and I am just so pleased to get South Queensland over the line for our first win!". Both sides played a great style of football in a very entertaining crowd, and the much anticipated North and South rivalry lived on in the great spectacle tonight.

As North coach i just want to say "Great Kicking Josh"

HAHAHA Go travis elken, stuffed the game...thats my boy.

hehe.