In a tense and evenly contested matchup at Totally Workwear Stadium, the Central Queensland Capras and Brisbane Tigers fought to a 26-26 draw in their latest Hostplus Cup clash. Both sides showcased impressive resilience, trading tries and penalty goals in a match that remained on a knife’s edge until the final whistle.
The Capras came out firing, with Tyler Szepanowski crossing the line in just the second minute. Brisbane responded through Josh Smith at the 13-minute mark before the Capras reclaimed the lead with a try from Tevita Naufahu at the 25th minute. The Tigers, however, clawed their way back just before halftime, with Coby Williamson scoring to reduce the deficit. A penalty goal from Keagan Russell-Smith ensured Brisbane entered the break with a narrow 12-10 lead.
The second half saw momentum shift multiple times, as both teams continued to apply attacking pressure. Caleb Daunt and Setu Tu extended Brisbane’s lead with tries in the 47th and 53rd minutes, but the Capras hit back through a sensational double from John Fineanganofo in the 58th and 61st minutes, leveling the scores. The kicking battle proved crucial, with Blake Moore and Russell-Smith each converting three out of four attempts.
With the game in the balance, both teams capitalised on penalty opportunities, with Moore slotting two late penalty goals for the Capras, while Russell-Smith kept the Tigers in contention with one of his own in the 75th minute. In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, resulting in a hard-fought draw.’
Despite the missed opportunity for a win, the Capras will take confidence from their attacking resilience and their ability to respond under pressure. As they prepare for their next challenge, addressing defensive lapses and improving discipline will be key areas of focus.
Key Stats:
- Possession: Tigers 52% – Capras 48%
- Time in Possession: Tigers 22:32 – Capras 20:25
- Completion Rate: Tigers 80% (29/36) – Capras 78% (25/32)
- Total Passes: Tigers 198 – Capras 148
- Offloads: Tigers 6 – Capras 4
- Tackles Made: Tigers 271 – Capras 277
- Effective Tackle %: Tigers 88.56% – Capras 85.49%
- Missed Tackles: Tigers 21 – Capras 39
- Penalties Conceded: Tigers 6 – Capras 10
