A sellout crowd was on hand at Telstra Stadium to see the Gold Coast Crusade clash with the Wellington Cougars to decide the 2003 Bob Fulton Cup. The Crusade had cruised into the final on a wave of big wins, whilst New Zealand's first real challenge came in the semi's against a spirited Manly side.

The Crusade, sporting a number of injuries, were fielding some new faces as Scott Sattler and Tony Puletua came over from Central to pursue glory at Gold Coast. Young Billy Slater would also get a start, whilst New Zealand were able to field the same side that has brought them this far.

The Cougars kicked off from the boot of Brett Hodgson, and a rough and messy first few minutes ensued. If either side had plans for conservative football, it went out the window as both sides spread it wide early. Despite the free flowing start, the first points came from the boot of young Graham Luana, converting an infringement in the play the ball until a 2-0 lead after five minutes.

He may be getting on in years, but veteran lock Scott Sattler lifted a notch as the game wound on- defending like a wolverine and attacking like a man possessed. A clean break from a Jonny Wilkinson short ball in the 8th put Gold Coast deep on the attack, another Wilkinson pass finding a steaming Scott Logan to score the opening try of the match. Wilkinson missed the relatively easy conversion, and the Crusade lead 4-2.

The Cougars' kickoff had them under pressure again, a horrible defensive set and some good one out running from Gold Coast had the Crusade in the ten after five tackles. Andrew Johns powered over from ten out, the try his sixth in five games, and Wilkinson's conversion had Gold Coast up healthy 10-2 leaders after ten minutes.

Trent Barret, normally quiet at club football, lifted to the challenge from the next kick-off. Barret's defense, whilst not faultless, was commited- as the incumbant NSW 5/8th sought to get his side back in contention. A pair of line breaks in one set of six saw Wellington in their first attacking opportunity of the match, Brett Hodgson scoring out wide after a long Sherwin pass created a 2 on 1 overlap. The try was not converted, but the Cougars were back in the hunt at 10-6 in the 14th.

The try clearly disheartened Gold Coast, and lifted Wellington, as the New Zealand based side lifted a notch in attack and defence. Stinging hits by their big forwards had Gold Coast dropping easy ball, and when Clinton Toopi swooped on a loose Andrew Johns ball and raced forty metres to score untouched- the Crusade were shellshocked at 12-10 down.

Young Billy Slater was injected into the game in the 24th, and was put under the hammer straight away, rushing across on a flying Timana Tahu and preventing a certain try when he bundled last year's Player of the Year into touch.

Sattler and Davico, the two newest Gold Coast forwards, combined in the ensuing sets of six- putting some sting in their own defence to force Wellington to adjust their strategies. The Wellington forwards panicked, and sloppy defence saw Wilkinson kicking for touch in the 29th. The long drive had Gold Coast on the attack once more, Scott Sattler powering onto a Johns' cutout pass to score beneath the posts- taking Tahu and Hodgson with him. Wilkinson made the easy conversion, and Gold Coast lead 16-12.

The game's quality degraded as both sides tired as the half wound on, even the injection of forwards Kylie Leulai and Josh Perry could do little to lift their respective sides. New centre Matthew Gidley tried to spark his side, his characteristic flick pass putting Davico down the sideline- but a big Ralph hit had Davico into touch. The Cougars hit back in the only way they knew, Jeremy Paul running at the line and ducking a high Josh Perry tackle. He then out-stepped Kris Radlinski and out-ran Billy Slater to score out wide. Luana missed a difficult conversion, levelling things at 16 all with five to go before the break.

Two penalties before half time had Gold Coast 20-16 leaders as the whistle was blown, but neither side looked revved up and ready for another forty- both tired by the intensity of the first half.

HALFTIME
Gold Coast 20 lead Wellington 16

Tommy O'Reilly got the second half underway, and it was clear from the get go that Wellington coach Nathan Hoy's halftime speech had more effect than whatever Chris Walker-Bush said. The Cougars were fired up, and when Timana Tahu cut them down the right side it looked like a guaranteed try. Once again rookie centre Billy Slater made the save, ankle tapping Tahu, who fell heavily and brushed the touchline, preventing another certain try.

Despite the intensity of Wellington's attack, the Cougars couldn't get points on the board for some time, continually thwarted by desperate marker defence and some stinging hits from Scott Sattler- who played with more pride and passion than any other Crusade player on the field.

The 56th minute saw a woeful set of six from Gold Coast, a string of sloppy passes resulting in Danny Buderus knocking on only twenty out. Clinton Toopi made the Crusade pay, palming off Matt Gidley and wrestling with Craig Hall to score a soft try. The conversion was successul from the touchline, Wellington up 22-20.

A piece of Wilkinson brilliance gave Gold Coast the chance they needed, his spiralling kick-off too much for Ruben Wiki, who knocked on in goal to give Gold Coast a dropout. The English wonderboy did it all himself, grubbering on the third and chasing through to score out wide. He failed to convert his own try, but the Crusade lead once again, up 24-22 in the 60th.

In one of those cruel moments that league so often has, Scott Sattler- easily Gold Coast's best thus far- was the catalyst for the next Wellington try. Bringing the ball up, Sattler was hit in a stiff Mason tackle which forced the ball loose. Barret swooped on the ball, and from their it was a matter of passing as the Cougars exploited an ill-set defensive line. Big Willie Mason was rewarded for his hit, getting a gift try off a selfless Hodgson pass. The easy conversion was landed, and it was 28-24 with eighteen to go.

Gold Coast looked to have hit back again in the 64th, when Mark Hughes chased a long Andrew Johns kick which was fumbled by Brett Hodgson in fullback. Hughes grabbed the loose ball and scored an apparent try, but was ruled offside by the video referee, which was clearly the right decision.

Scott Sattler continued to be Gold Coast's best, breaking the line three times and putting some truly stinging hits on Wellington's big men as he single handedly sought to bring Gold Coast back into the lead. His frustration with his new team-mates was obvious, as he vented in a verbal spray at captain Andrew Johns after another failed raid.

In the 76th it was again Sattler who did the work for Gold Coast, throwing aside Timana Tahu and racing down-field with surprising speed for a lock forward. When he was caught in a sickening high tackle by John Sitizien, the penalty gave Gold Coast a full set of six in Wellington's twenty. Sattler was again the go to man, making a half break which ended a metre out courtesy of a despairing Sherwin tackle. Andrew Johns sough to lift his side when his spiralling pass found Wilkinson out wide, but excellent defence saw Ralph drag Wilkinson into touch.

In a somewhat ignoble finish to the game, the Cougars scored a length of the field try after a loose ball found rookie freak John Sitizien. His length of the field effort had things sealed in the 79th, and although Luana apallingly missed the goal, a penalty on full-time for Andrew Johns' kickoff going out on the full allowed Luana to add two more to settle a 34-24 scoreline. Despite the ten point margin, it was far closer than the result showed, as the two sides shook hands and prepared for the presentation ceremony.

FULLTIME
New Zealand 34
Brett Hodgson
Clinton Toopi 2
Ruben Wiki
Jeremy Paul
Willie Mason
Luana 5/9
def.
Gold Coast 24
Jonny Wilkinson
Andrew Johns
Scott Logan
Scott Sattler
Wilkinson 4/6

In the presentation ceremony, Scott Sattler was a deserving but surprised winner of the Wally Lewis award for best and fairest in the BFC final. Sattler, who was clearly shocked, had very little to say- but was seen after the ceremony apologising to his fellow players for his anger during the match.

John Sitizien (Wellington) received two player of the year points, with Clinton Toopi picking up a single PoM poin to go with his double.

Wellington coach Nathan Hoy then approached the podium for his victory speech and announced that he and Gold Coast coach Chris Walker-Bush had agreed to split the prize money 60/40 before the match. The two coaches shook hands and posed for the press with the check for $750,000.

It was a fitting end to what is fast becoming the highlight of the ASRL season- the two best sides doing battle in a messy but entertaining clash full of passion, flare, and skill.

The winners, Wellington, showed that they are the deserved premiership favourites- whilst Gold Coast showed that they'll be a real force once they can get their new look side to 'click'.

ASRL Weekly Magazine