After spending last season as interchange hooker, Waves Tigers’ Sam Tobin is relishing the starting role in 2022 and it showed in a 22-10 win in the Battle of the Big Cats on Saturday.
Tobin (pictured above) scored two tries in a player of the round performance as Waves Tigers roared past Wests Panthers in the Round 6 contest at Salter Oval.
The affable 22-year-old country boy – who was raised on a farming property at Wallaville, 40km outside of Bundaberg – has played all of his career for the Tigers since starting in the under 10s 12 years ago.
In 2019, he had the double-disappointment of captaining Waves in their heartbreaking Under 18 grand final loss to Hervey Bay Seagulls, before playing in their 32-28 defeat at the hands of Past Brothers in the A grade decider later in the afternoon.
Then, after season 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19, Tobin made a great start to 2021, including scoring two tries against the Panthers in Round 3 before his season was abruptly ended by a nasty ankle injury, and from there, Mitchell Trims took over at No. 9 and cemented himself in the position.
Last year, during which Tobin was forced to play second fiddle to Trims, the Tigers claimed the minor premiership, before bowing out with devastating losses to Brothers 20-18 in the major semi-final, and ultimate champions Seagulls 32-28 in the preliminary final.
But with Trims moving to Brothers this year, Tobin assumed the No. 9 jersey and he has shone in attack and defence week-in, week-out.
He was rewarded with selection in a youthful Bundaberg team for the 47th Battalion Memorial Carnival and he again handled himself with aplomb in the Bears’ big victory over Central Highlands and honourable two-point loss to Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Victory on Saturday was sweet after they were beaten by the Panthers 18-14 in the season opener on March 25. Their only other loss had been to Brothers last Saturday week when they were without seven of their stars – many of whom were attending Magic Round – but they led 6-0 at the break before going down 34-12.
Tobin set the standard on Saturday, scoring the first try and also being integrally involved in their second as they established a 12-4 lead by oranges.
The two sides continued to stage a titanic battle in the second stanza but the sin-binning of Tigers’ Sailusi Manufekai in the 57th minute paved the way for Panthers captain and hooker Tyson Douglas to slice through the defence a minute later for a try, which was converted by Chris Robinson to get them to within two points.
But the Tigers regained control with Tobin hitting back in the 72nd minute with a signature try, before Lachlan Dullaway again added the extras to re-establish an eight-point buffer.
However, electrifying Fijian winger Ponipate Wailevu delivered the knock-out blow, receiving the ball on their own line from the ensuing kick restart, breaking the first line of defence before racing away on a 100m sprint to the line, eluding the cover defence and chasers, and cheekily first-pumping in the air before diving over.
The win moved Waves back into second place on the ladder with eight points, behind the unbeaten Brothers (11), who picked up the two points courtesy of a forfeit by the Seagulls, whose horror season slumped to a new low.
The Magpies stay in third position on seven points despite their 42-30 defeat by back-to-back wooden spooners Wallaroos in Maryborough, with Roos moving to six points and fourth place with their third straight win after having started the new year with a hat-trick of losses.
The Panthers have four points to their credit, while it remains to be seen if the fallen champions Hervey Bay can recover.
While Tobin – whose younger sister Ruby is the leading points scorer for the untouchable Gin Gin Hawkettes who have not lost a game in the Northern Districts Women’s League Tag since Round 1 of 2021 – was the BRL player of the round, the Tigers had many other heroes, including their club award recipients, teenage rising superstar Tumeli Naco, who filled Cody Maughan’s huge shoes at fullback, Wailevu, South African international front rower Josh Hill, and quiet achiever goal-kicking centre Lachlan Dullaway.
Coach Antonio Kaufusi said they had made it hard for themselves especially in the first half, but he said he was proud of the way they stuck to their guns and “kept turning up for each other”.
Kaufusi and inspirational captain and front rower Reece Maughan are the only survivors from their last premiership of 2018 when they defeated Wallaroos 23-20 for the crown, but Tobin made his A grade debut that year before also missing the business end of the season after requiring shoulder surgery.
Tobin believes they can go all the way again.
“It was good to get one back over them (Wests) after losing to them in the first round – they are a good team – but the team to beat has got to be Brothers … they are on top of the table and they deserve to be there, but we can beat anyone,” he said.
Central region
2023 4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg Rugby League A Grade Men
Round 6 results
Past Brothers def Hervey Bay Seagulls (forfeit)
Waves Tigers 22 def Wests Panthers 10
Wallaroos 42 def Easts Magpies 30
Ladder
2023 Central Burnett Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 4 results
Mundubbera Tigers 54 def Monto Roos 18
Gayndah Gladiators 44 def Eidsvold Eagles 30
Ladder
2023 Emerald Industrial Supplies Central Highlands Men’s A Grade
Round 6 results
Dysart Bulls 72 def Middlemount Panthers 6
Emerald Tigers 26 def Clermont Bears 22
Springsure Mountain Men 34 def Blackwater Crushers 6
Bluff Rabbitohs drew with Peak Downs Pirates (match abandoned)
Ladder
2023 Wellshot Hotel Central West Rugby League Men’s A Grade
Round 11 results
Blackall Magpies 30 def Winton Diamantina Devils 4
Alpha Brumbies 36 def Barcaldine Sandgoannas 22
Ladder
Northern District Rugby League 2023 Men’s Premiership
Round 6 results
Isis Devils 50 def Miriam Vale Magpies 16
South Kolan Sharks 28 def Gin Gin Hawks 12
Ladder
2023 Rockhampton Men’s A Grade
Round 7 results
Yeppoon Seagulls 22 def Brothers Rockhampton 12
Norths Chargers 28 def Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks 20
Ladder
2023 Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Open Women’s Premiership
Round 7 results
Wallaby RLFC 22 def Brothers Rockhampton 6
Tannum Sands Seagulls 22 def Norths Chargers 6
Emu Park 6 def Yeppoon Seagulls 4
Ladder
2023 Roma District Rugby League Men’s A-grade
Round 4 results
Mitchell Magpies 40 def Miles Devils 14
Red Bulls 48 def St George 0
Roma Cities 28 def Taroom/Wandoan Battlers 6
Ladder
Wide Bay Female Competition 2023 Open Womens
Round 4 results
Fraser Coast Crushers 26 def Cherbourg Hornets 4
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Gladstone Men’s A grade
Round 3 results
Tannum Sands Seagulls 48 def Wallaby RLFC 12
Valleys Diehards 18 def Brothers Gladstone 14
Ladder
2023 Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men’s A Grade
Round 6 results
Beerwah Bulldogs 20 def Coolum Colts 18
Kawana Dolphins 34 def Maroochydore Swans 0
Nambour Crushers 34 def Noosa Pirates 30
Caboolture Snakes 22 def Caloundra Sharks 18
Ladder
2023 Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Open Women
Round 6 results
Beerwah Bulldogs def Gympie Devils (forfeit)
Noosa Pirates 42 def Nambour Crushers 0
Caloundra Sharks 22 def Caboolture Snakes 4
Ladder
South Burnett Ken Mills Isuzu Men’s A grade
Round 2 results
Cherbourg Hornets 34 def Wondai Proston Wolves 12
Kingaroy Red Ants 64 def Murgon Mustangs 24
Ladder
Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men’s A Grade
Round 5 results
Warwick Cowboys 33 def Dalby Diehards 28
Toowoomba Valleys 52 def Highfield Eagles 6
Gatton Hawks 16 def Wattles Warriors 12
Goondiwindi Boars 38 def Oakey Bears 24
Southern Suburbs 36 def Newtown Lions 16
Pittsworth Danes 46 def Toowoomba Brothers 16
Ladder
Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club A Grade Women 2023
Round 5 results
Toowoomba Valleys 20 def Highfields Eagles 14
Newtown Lions 50 def Southern Suburbs 0
Ladder
2023 Border Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 4 results
Inglewood Roosters 34 def Tenterfield Tigers 10
Texas Terriers 24 def McIntyre Warriors 18
Stanthorpe Gremlins 62 def Eastern Suburbs Hornets 8
Ladder
South East region
2023 Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade
Round 7 results
Beenleigh Pride 27 def Valleys Diehards 26
Bulimba Bulldogs 30 def Brighton Roosters 20
Normanby Hounds 18 def Carina Juniors 12
West Brisbane Panthers 54 def Souths Juniors 10
Wynnum Manly Juniors 78 def Pine Rivers Bears 10
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Gold Coast Men’s A Grade
Round 4 results
Tugun Seahawks 66 def Helensvale Hornets 24
Southport Tigers 56 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 12
Burleigh Bears v Currumbin Eagles – match abandoned
Ladder
Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup
Round 6 results
Fassifern Bombers 30 def Norths Tigers 28
Redbank Plains Bears 38 def Brothers Ipswich 24
Ladder
QRL North region
2023 FNQRL Men’s A grade
Round 6 results
Cairns Kangaroos 32 def Ivanhoes Knights 18
Innisfail Leprechauns 32 def Tully Tigers 18
Mareeba Gladiators 32 def Atherton Roosters 16
Yarrabah Seahawks 34 def Edmonton Storm 26
Cairns Brothers 48 def Southern Suburbs 14
Ladder
2023 FNQRL Open Women’s
Round 4 results
Cairns Kangaroos 24 def Ivanhoes Knights Maidens 12
Yarrabah Seahawks 22 def Edmonton Storm 16
Ladder
Mt Isa Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 3 results
Townies 24 def Brothers 20
Ladder
NQBE Mackay Men’s A Grade
Round 5 results
Moranbah Miners 24 def Mackay Brothers 22
Mackay Magpies 20 def Sarina Crocodiles 0
Whitsunday Brahmans 30 def Souths Sharks 12
Carltons Devils 40 def Wests Tigers 16
Ladder
2023 Mackay Airport Women’s A grade
Round 1 results
Mackay Brothers 60 def Moranbah Miners 0
Carltons Devils 26 def Sarina Crocodiles 4
Mackay Magpies 36 def Souths Sharks 6
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Townsville District Men’s A grade
Round 5 results
Burdekin Roosters 38 def Souths Bulls 14
Brothers Townsville 32 def Herbert River Crushers 6
Norths Devils 26 def Western Lions 12
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Townsville District Open Women
Round 5 results
Brothers Towsnville 34 def Herbert Rivers Crushers 12
Western Lions 20 def Norths Devils 0
Ladder