A bumper crowd helped steer the Central Queensland Capras home for a final win at Browne Park over the PNG Hunters.
The Central Queenslanders continued their super start to the 2024 Hostplus Cup season when they knocked off the Hunters 38-18 on Saturday evening.
While the win over the PNG squad was sweet, it was the ability to give the loyal Browne Park fans something to celebrate that filled the CQ squad with joy.
“It’s something the players spoke about. They wanted to finish there on a good note,” CQ Capras head coach Lionel Harbin said.
“They wanted to put on a really good performance for our community who have been really great over the last few years in supporting the team and the club.
“It was really important that we were able to do that. We were all ecstatic that we could get the win for them.”
The win was the last game that the Capras will play prior to relocating their remaining home games to Rugby Park.
Harbin said the transition will not have an effect on his squad.
“No not really. We will just prepare for every week as it comes,” he said when asked if the move would change his team’s preparations.
“There’s nothing we can do except face what is in front of us this weekend and that’s the Cutters.
“And then we will just have to focus on what is in our control.
“So wherever we play footy it won’t matter.”
The final win at Browne Park was kickstarted by Jesse Jennings who opened the scoring in just the second minute.
It was Jennings’ 50th Hostplus Cup match and after being earmarked in CQ Today Weekend’s preview by coach Lionel Harbin, the second rower didn’t disappoint.
PNG prop Seal Kalo levelled the scores in the ninth minute when he crashed over, making it 6-6.
The Capras Mr.Consistant Blake Moore was again running the show from the back when he scored a try in the 17th minute to reclaim CQ’s six-point advantage.
Jennings would then help extend that out to 12 when he crossed for his second try of the contest in the 21st minute.
A late first-half try to Manisa Kai meant to PNG Hunters reduced the deficit back to six when the half-time hooter sounded.
However three unanswered tries from the Capras put them firmly in the driver’s seat after the half-time break.
Hooker Trey Brown, winger Bob Tenza scored in the 46th and 55th respectively before fullback Blake Moore wrapped out the back of a play to score his second and the Capras’ sixth try.
The Hunters would pull one try back but CQ debutant Khaiya Waiembi would start his Hostplus Cup career off perfectly when he scored in the 68th to finalise the score at 38-18, sending the Capras’ fans home happy.
It was also a pleasing return to the paddock for Aaron Moore, with his connection with brother Blake shining throughout the contest.
Jennings and winger Bob Tenza also received plaudits from their coach who was really pleased with his players’ grit and determination.
Coach Harbin was impressed with his side’s performance and believes the squad has a lot of confidence heading into Rivalry Round against the Mackay Cutters this weekend.
“The boys are playing with a bit of confidence at the moment,” he said.
“That’s coming off the back of working really hard at training.
“I thought it was a really good performance on the weekend. I thought we were really dominant and convincing.
“It’s always good to get those early wins under the belt.
“It helps take the pressure off after everyone had a long pre-season.”
The second-placed Capras will travel to Mackay this week where they will face the third-placed Cutters at BB Print Stadium.
