A five-try haul and two hat-trick heroes headline the Rugby League Gold Coast Round 6 action, while a coach has revealed the extent of an injury that called a game off and the loss of a player on the cusp of the Queensland Cup. All the action here >>
NRL: Justin Holbrook and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui spoke to the media following their round 12 defeat to the Canterbury Bulldogs
It took Sunday’s 50-16 win over Helensvale to truly showcase that, and now the former Melbourne Storm flyer has tipped his prodigy to push for higher honours.
Smith told his grandfather prior to kick off he would score a try for him to celebrate the first chance he had to watch him play in a decade. He scored five.
The versatile outside back — playing his first game since the club’s Round 3 defeat to Runaway Bay — was in a realm of his own in the Eagles triumph, with Geyer declaring some of the tries “takes a Lachie Smith to score”.
Lachlan Smith of Currumbin Eagles is chased by Tihema Hiini of Helensvale Hornets during the Rugby League Gold Coast A Grade clash held at Galleon Way, Gold Coast, Sunday, May 28, 2023. Photo: Regi Varghese
Now Geyer declared Smith could be one strong finish to the Rugby League Gold Coast season away from joining his former teammate Zion Johnson on the cusp of Queensland Cup honours.
Eagles product Johnson turned his emphatic try scoring form at the back end of the 2022 campaign into a train and trial stint with the Redcliffe Dolphins; now plying his trade in the Brisbane Rugby League in pursuit of a debut.
Geyer said Smith possessed the same raw ability to replicate those feats, having cast aside a disjointed season last year to transform his approach in 2023.
But he said for all that he could achieve in the game, it was moments like that which he shared with his grandfather that epitomised the club’s brand.
“Lachie wasn’t sure what he was going to do at the start of last year. He probably came back, I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but a little unwillingly,” Geyer said.
“But this year he had a really good pre-season, and if he’s not the fittest guy in the club he’s in the top few. When you put that talent into some good hard work it’s hard to stop.
“He actually after the game said his grandfather hadn’t seen him play footy for 10 years. It was the first thing he told me, he was super stoked.
“That’s what it’s about for us, we’re not here to move mountains but moments like that when a bloke comes up and says that … that’s something that sticks with you forever.”
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While Smith has taken his game to new heights, Geyer has been forced to cover a pair of crucial voids left by Johnson’s Dolphins bid and a major injury to Tyler Gilbert.
Currumbin’s clash with Burleigh was called off 20 minutes in after Gilbert suffered a severely broken elbow; ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Geyer, whose side were 4-0 up at the time, confirmed the game would remain a draw and that at the time players and coaches were unwilling to move him as he was experience pain in his shoulder and neck.
As for Johnson, while Geyer admitted it was a major absence to lose the young gun he believed there was every chance a QCup call up beckoned.
“He did a pre-season with the Dolphins in their QCup squad after the fabulous A-grade season he had worked really hard, he had a really good pre-season,” Geyer said.
“He only played about half the season in A-grade, but once he got there he had the taste. It’s an immediate loss for us but if he plays Queensland Cup or better I’ll celebrate that.
“He’s an agility freak – he gets in and works hard. Same with Lachie, when you get those genetics and athleticism and hard work mixed it’s dangerous.
“It’s often you only get one of those things and you get those stories of hard luck of wasted potential, but there’s a bit of talent, or someone with less talent but works hard and doesn’t quite get there.
“He’s played basketball so he’s got great acceleration, great change of direction and a real good belief in him.”
BEST OF THE REST
Walker Smith’s at-the-death hat-trick has inspired Runaway Bay to a thrilling 30-22 triumph over Tugun, avenging last year’s semi-finals disappointment and their Round 1 draw.
Poor goal kicking cost the Seagulls of an opening victory against Tugun — the same side who ended their premiership quest in the 2022 Rugby League Gold Coast finals — however in a seesawing affair they would not be outdone on Saturday.
Walker saved his final try for the 79th minute to end the contest, after Seahawks centre Caleb Hodges crossed for his second with four minutes on the clock to get them within two points.
Runaway Bay’s win was also the first instance star recruit Kurtis Rowe had been deployed at five-eighth, with the Burleigh Bears legend scoring with the number six on his back.
Meanwhile Southport winger Jack Frasca became the first player in the competition to reach 10 tries crossing for a hat-trick of his own in the 44-18 win over Burleigh.
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