PENRITH PANTHERS 14 REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 68
TOM SMITH, Accor Stadium, Sunday

JAKE AVERILLO snared a hat-trick and right-edge pair Joven Gyemore and Kyle Coghill bagged braces as the Dolphins demolished the Panthers in the State Championship final.

Redcliffe galloped to a 40-4 half-time lead to effectively wrap up their first triumph since this meeting of the NSW Cup and Queensland Cup champions was added to NRL Grand Final day back in 2014.

As feeder clubs to two of the NRL’s top four teams this year, both team lists were laced with NRL players.

But the Phins had the lion’s share of top-grade experience and one of those players – Averillo – kicked off the rout inside four minutes.

Gymore sprinted 60 metres down the right touchline for his first, although dangerous Penrith fullback Jaxen Edgar pulled one back.

Coghill grounded an Averillo kick before the stand-off supplied Tevita Naufahu.

Brian Pouniu pounced on a mishandled Joshua James bomb, Sam Elliott steamed over from close range and Averillo chip-and-chased through traffic for his second before the break.

An electric Naufahu line break handed Averillo his third, then Elliott assisted speedster Trai Fuller.

Zakauri Clarke and Jirah Liddiard scored a pair of consolation tries either side of Coghill’s intercept second.

But Averillo’s boot gave Jude Saldanha four points and Gymore nabbed his second try to finish the twelve-try romp.

PANTHERS: 1 Jaxen Edgar, 2 Nick Murphy, 3 Patrick Moimoi, 4 Jesse McLean, 5 Jirah Liddiard, 6 Keahn Skipps, 7 Kurt Falls, 8 Tom Ale, 9 Billy Scott, 15 Jakeb Vailalo, 11 Zakauri Clarke, 12 Kalani Leuluai-Going, 13 Luron Patea. Subs (all used): 10 Josh Ruxton, 14 Vea Tapa’atoutai, 17 Buster Hindmarsh, 23 Tuaomaliemavaitoelau Patea

Tries: Edgar (14), Clarke (54), Liddiard (64); Goals: Clarke 1/3

DOLPHINS: 1 Trai Fuller, 2 Joven Gyemore, 3 Jude Saldanha, 4 Kyle Coghill, 5 Tevita Naufahu, 6 Jake Averillo, 7 Joshua James, 8 Sebastian Su’a, 9 Brent Woolf, 10 Felise Kaufusi, 11 Brian Pouniu, 12 Sam Elliott, 13 Brad Schneider. Subs (all used): 14 Jordan Plath, 15 Sheldon Pitama, 16 Domenico De Stradis, 17 Jaron Purcell

Tries: Averillo (4, 36, 44), Gyemore (12, 74), Coghill (19, 58), Naufahu (26), Pouniu (29), Elliott (34), Fuller (47), Saldanha (69); Goals: James 10/12

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 4-12, 4-16, 4-22, 4-28, 4-34, 4-40; 4-46, 4-52, 10-52, 10-58, 14-58, 14-64, 14-68

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Panthers: Luron Patea; Dolphins: Jake Averillo

Penalty count: 8-5; Half-time: 4-40; Referee: Kieren Irons